March For Our Lives is asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15 to 21.
AUSTIN, Texas — Uvalde parents and family members, activists and mass shooting survivors are participating in a March For Our Lives rally Saturday morning at the Texas State Capitol.
Organizers are asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call an immediate special session to raise the minimum age to purchase an assault weapon to 21. March For Our Lives called on “everyone in Texas who cares about the lives of children” to join the rally.
On May 24, a gunman walked into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and killed 19 children and two teachers. Since then, school safety has become an even higher priority to Texas parents. He purchased the AR-15 he used to carry out the murders, just days after turning eighteen.
Gun control advocates have spent the past three months urging the governor to call a special session to address gun safety.
Lawmakers cannot change any gun laws since they are not in a legislative session. The Texas legislature is set to reconvene in January. But organizers of the event say that is too long to wait and that Gov. Abbott should call a special session now.
“To avoid another mass shooting from happening, to avoid, you know, another 18-year-old from being able to acquire an assault weapon,” said Matthew Hogenmiller, an organizer for March for Our Lives. “We’re here to rally.”
Hogenmiller believes allowing 18-year-olds to buy assault rifles just doesn’t make sense.
“I’m 20 years old and I cannot rent a car to pick up equipment for this rally,” said Hoggenmiller. “But I can purchase an assault weapon if I wanted to here in Texas.”
“With kids across Texas starting to go back to school, his inaction is unconscionable. Every day he doesn’t take action is another day he gambles with our lives,” March For Our Lives said in a press release. “Gov. Abbott: it’s time to honor the children from Robb Elementary school with action to keep kids across Texas safe.”
The rally is being held on the south steps of the Capitol from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday.
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