Uvalde parents ignored

Regarding “No vote after Uvalde parents plead for tougher gun laws,” (April 18): I was in the hearing room when courageous Uvalde families shared their stories. I left the state Capitol this morning at 3 a.m.

I am a gun owner. The representatives from the NRA, Gun Owners of America, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and others do not speak for me or the majority of gun owners across the country. These reasonable policy proposals are not an infringement on the rights of law-abiding, responsible Texas gun owners, and polling supports this.

Over and over, with survivor families in the room, opponents testified against bill after bill that we know can save lives. They said no to requiring a background check for private gun sales, no to a narrow bill to raise the age to 21 for certain semi-automatic rifles, and many, many more proposals. Instead, they suggested we arm classroom teachers. Staff members were armed at The Covenant School in Nashville. Armed school resource officers were present for the Santa Fe and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shootings in 2018.

Demand our lawmakers have the courage of fourth graders and the two brave teachers in Uvalde.

Demand they acknowledge thousands of young people walking out across the country in protest. We will not stop every gun crime, nor can we prevent every gun death, every suicide, but we can make it harder and rarer.

Hold the opposition accountable for their fear-mongering and refusal to acknowledge facts and data that gun laws save lives.

An average of more than 116 lives are lost every day. Call your lawmakers. Keep calling and keep writing. Demand their courage.

Shannon Flores, Katy, lead gun owner organizer, GIFFORDS Gun Owners for Safety

Regarding “Mattress Mack blasts Harris County as ‘besieged by criminals’ as he pushes for election records,” (April 18): I find it sadly amazing that, in the Wednesday print edition, you would cover Mattress Mack blasting county Dems at the state Capitol in Austin and ignore a more important group promoting new legislation to increase the age to buy an assault weapon.

This group included folks directly affected by the Uvalde and Sandy Hook tragedies. You made no mention of them that day, but Mack got your front page.

Misplaced priorities.

Scott Fleming, Houston