While some Republicans in the state Capitol are lining up with Democrats to advocate for increased gun-control laws in the wake of recent shootings, one state senator is drawing a line in the sand.
In an exclusive this week, State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood) told Texas Scorecard when it comes to new anti-gun legislation, there’s no room for compromise on Texans’ Second Amendment rights.
“Texan’s GOD-GIVEN RIGHT to self-defense is under attack,” Hall said. “It now appears that a bipartisan coalition is being formed to resurrect and adopt Obama/Clinton gun-control legislation. We must not allow regulations that disarmed citizens in Germany in the 1930s, and later in communist countries, to be adopted in Texas.”
“The ‘line in the sand’ must be drawn here, and it must be drawn now. ZERO COMPROMISE. You are either on one side of this issue or the other side. There is no middle ground,” he added. “I know not on which side others will stand, but I promise you that I, and my family, will stand with liberty and fight for law-abiding citizens’ GOD-GIVEN RIGHT to self-defense.”
Hall’s comments are a stark contrast from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s calls to expand mandatory background checks on private gun sales as well as the “Texas Safety Action Report,” a list of legislative proposals from Gov. Greg Abbott following his gun-safety roundtables.
While Abbott has stopped short of demanding mandatory background checks—instead recommending they be made easier, more affordable, and incentivized for citizens to voluntarily participate in them—some gun owners have suggested his proposal could become more wide-sweeping should it reach the floor of the legislature.
If it does, Hall has indicated he will fight against it.
Thus far, however, many of his colleagues have remained silent.
