El Paso shooting anniversary commemorates the lives lost after a gunman targeted Latinos at a local Walmart, killing 23 and injuring more than two dozen people two years ago.
According to Time magazine, Patrick Crusius, who was charged with capital murder under Texas law and hate crime charges at the federal level, confessed to driving more than 600 miles to El Paso from his home near Dallas to target Mexicans.
The Texan Governor, Greg Abbott, released a statement on the 2nd anniversary of the tragedy, describing it as “a heinous and senseless act of violence” that destroyed countless lives in the El Paso community.
“Today, and every day, we remember and honor the lives of those cut short that day. And we strive each and every day to create a safer and brighter future for all in the Lone Star State,” the statement read.
However, he has been called out for what appears to be an act of incongruence, after doing everything in his power to side with gun rights advocates during the Legislature, which included a bill-signing ceremony dedicated just to gun-related bills.
“We need to erect a complete barrier against any government official anywhere from treading on gun rights in Texas,” said Abbott during a pro-gun speech.
After signing into law the permitless carry bill, Texans will be allowed to carry handguns without the need of a license or any sort of training starting September 1st.
Abbott’s statement on the 2nd anniversary of the El Paso shooting remembers the victims of gun violence, even though he has been Texas’ most powerful politician vouching to ensure Texas becomes a Second Amendment sanctuary state.
Meanwhile, as reported by the Texas Tribune, gun control advocates are disappointed the Legislature made it easier to carry firearms after repeated instances of gun violence — including the 2019 massacres in El Paso and Midland-Odessa that left 30 people dead.”Despite overwhelming support for common-sense gun violence prevention legislation like universal background checks, Texas Republicans, led by a cowardly governor, are more interested in groveling for the gun lobby’s attention than they are in preventing gun violence and honoring victims and survivors in El Paso and across Texas,” said U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso.
