TEA Directed to Make Schools Safer

Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Education Agency to ensure school facilities are made safer in the wake of the killing of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.

In a letter to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, the governor requested the agency:

• Instruct school districts to identify actions to make campuses more secure prior to the start of the new school year.

• Instruct all school districts to conduct weekly inspections of exterior doors to verify they are secure during school hours.

• Develop strategies to encourage school districts to increase the presence of trained law enforcement officers and school marshals on campuses.

The state has made an initial $5 million investment to establish a Family Resiliency Center in Uvalde County. The center will provide psychological services, crisis counseling and other health services for those affected by the massacre.

To date, the governor has rejected calls for a special session to consider additional gun control measures. Instead, he has asked legislative leaders to convene special committees to develop recommendations on school safety, mental health, social media, police training, firearm safety and other issues.

GOP Donors Urge Congress to Act on Gun Control

More than 250 major Republican donors in Texas signed an open letter published in The Dallas Morning News urging congressional action to increase gun restrictions. The letter was published as a full-page ad on Sunday. It endorses the creation of red-flag laws, raising the age to purchase a gun to 21, and expansion of background checks.

“Most law enforcement experts believe these measures would make a difference,” the letter reads. “And recent polls of fellow conservatives suggest that there is strong support for such gun-safety measures.” Texas Sen. John Cornyn is leading bipartisan negotiations on possible gun reform measures.

“We are grateful that our Senator John Cornyn is leading efforts to address the recent tragedies in Uvalde and elsewhere across our great Country,” the letter says. “He’s the right man to lead this bipartisan effort, as he has demonstrated throughout his career.”

Among those signing the letter are major financial supporters of Abbott.