I live in Irving, and I’m a high school student who cares about safety in our schools and neighborhoods. Right now, Texas lawmakers are working on a bill called SB 1596. This bill would make short-barreled guns, like sawed-off shotguns, legal under state law. Even if federal rules still apply, Texas police would not charge people for having them.
To me, that’s scary. These guns are not like normal hunting rifles. They are easier to hide and can do a lot of damage fast. In 2018, a student used a sawed-off shotgun in the Santa Fe school shooting here in Texas. It makes no sense to make it easier for people to have these guns when we have already seen how dangerous they can be.
I know Texas is a state that believes in gun rights. A lot of families here own guns for hunting, sport, or protection. I’m not against people having guns. But I also think rights come with responsibility. Just because we can pass a law to loosen gun rules doesn’t mean we should…