Texas Governor Greg Abbott has penned a letter to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan asking that special legislative committees be convened in the wake of the Robb Elementary mass shooting in Uvalde, which claimed 19 student lives and two teachers.
“As Texans mourn the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last week, we as a State must reassess the twin issues of school safety and mass violence,” reads the letter. “As leaders, we must come together at this time to provide solutions to protect all Texans. Accordingly, I hereby request that each of you convene a special legislative committee. I look forward to working with you both on this important mission to make Texas safer, and I stand ready to provide any and all support.”
Abbott is requesting that issues such as mental health, school safety, social media, police training, and firearm safety all be put under the microscope.
“I hereby request that each of you convene a special legislative committee. I request that these committees review what steps previous legislatures have enacted, what resources the State has made available to local school districts, and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Executive Branch so that meaningful action can be made,” Abbott said.
A number of state lawmakers have also been putting pressure on Abbott to call a full special session of the Texas Legislature.
