Texas governor unveils plan to prevent school shootings

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for schools to have more armed personnel and said the state should put a bigger focus on spotting student mental health problems, but he proposed only a few small restrictions on guns following a May 18 shooting at Santa Fe High School near Houston that killed 10 and wounded 13.

Abbott released a 43page report after three days of mostly closed-door meetings last week that the GOP governor organized with school district officials, shooting survivors and groups on both sides of the gun-control debate, among others.

The recommendations are voluntary, and some would require changes to state laws that would need approval from the Legislature, which doesn’t come back into session until 2019.

School districts wishing to make some of the changes could begin doing so, such as sending staff for free gun training this summer.

The lack of major gun control measures is not surprising in a state that embraces its gun-friendly reputation and has more than 1.2 million people licensed to carry handguns.

The only significant gunrelated proposal mentioned by Abbott for Texas was a possible “red flag,” which allows family, law enforcement and others to file a petition to remove firearms from a potentially dangerous person.

Abbott gave the proposal only a tepid endorsement, asking leaders of the Legislature to “consider the merits” of such a law.

Eight states have red flag laws and three — Florida, Maryland and Vermont — passed them after the mass shooting in Parkland.

Abbott, a staunch supporter of gun rights, is proposing a change to the state law that says guns can’t be made accessible to children under 17, with exceptions such as hunting or parent supervision. He’s encouraging the Legislature to consider making the law also apply to 17-yearolds.

Authorities have charged student Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, with capital murder at Santa Fe High School.

Pagourtzis is accused of using a shotgun and a .38 revolver that belonged to his father.

Abbott also wants a new law that would require gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm within 10 days.

President Donald Trump will meet families of the victims during a visit to the state Thursday.

In Indiana, comfort dogs, principals and counselors greeted students Wednesday as they returned to Noblesville West Middle School in suburban Indianapolis five days after officials say a male student shot and wounded a 13year-old classmate and a teacher.

Noblesville Schools spokesman Marnie Cooke said the counselors and principals from several local school districts were there “to provide more familiar faces” for returning students.

Cooke said the school day would be shorter than usual through Friday — the end of the school year — so officials can focus on counseling students still shaken by the May 25 shooting.

Science teacher Jason Seaman, a former college football player, has been hailed for tackling the shooter who wounded Ella Whistler. She remained hospitalized in Indianapolis, although school officials said her condition was improving.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that they must wait until charges are filed before releasing information about the suspect.

Officials say the boy was armed with two handguns when he opened fire inside Seaman’s classroom.

Under Indiana law, any suspects 13 and younger must be tried as juveniles if they are accused of anything other than murder, said Larry Landis, executive director of the Indiana Public Defender Council.

Juveniles must be at least 14 years old to be tried as an adult on serious crimes such as attempted murder charges, he said.