Gov. Greg Abbott began a series of public safety roundtable discussions Thursday to explore how Texas might prevent another mass shooting.
Abbott said those talks with state and community leaders include figuring out how to combat threats of domestic terrorism and how to best design “red flag” laws, which are designed to confiscate a person’s guns when a judge believes they have become a threat to themselves or others.
“They include providing community healing for the people of El Paso and they include keeping guns out of the hands of deranged individuals while, at the very same time, doing so in a way that safeguards Second Amendment rights,” Abbott said.
But outside of the State Capitol building, gun owners protested the governor’s roundtable meetings. Ted Bonnet drove in from San Antonio to join others who don't want to see red flag laws in Texas. Bonnet said the laws offer no due process for the accused.
“Well they’re trying to prevent crime before it happens as some possibility,'' Bonnet said.
The series of roundtable discussions will take place in multiple locations throughout the state. The next meeting is set for Aug. 29 in El Paso.
Ryan Poppe can be reached at RPoppe@TPR.org and on Twitter at @RyanPoppe1.