OUR MISSION IS TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE AND OTHER GUN TRAGEDIES IN TEXAS THROUGH EDUCATION, PARTNERSHIPS, AND POLICY CHANGE.
BY THE NUMBERS
The annual cost of gun violence in Texas.
Source: EveryStat
Texas Legislature removed licensing and training requirements to carry a handgun in public.
Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
of suicides by Texas veterans are with a firearm.
Source: VA
Gun homicides in Texas have risen over
from 2011 to 2022.
Source: Giffords
Black people are
more likely than white people to die by gun homicide.
Source: EveryStat
The Legislature voted to allow Texas to openly carry handguns in public and to carry handguns on college campuses.
Join us at the Capitol from January through May. You can volunteer to help deliver materials to legislative offices and join us for hearings.
We are responsible Texans who advocate for evidence-based policies and community gun safety initiatives. We know Texas and know what will make the biggest impact in protecting our communities. Because of this, our priorities are:
We know that creating stronger vetting requirements to purchase semi-automatic rifles is a necessary step for making Texas safer. We cannot ignore the fact that nearly every mass shooting is carried out with a semi-automatic rifle, and many are perpetrated by people under the age of 21. We stand with Uvalde in urging legislators to create a stronger vetting process.
Texas should join other states that have adopted an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law, allowing civil court judges to temporarily remove firearms from individuals threatening to harm themselves or others. This constitutional process saves lives and helps people in crisis access support. This could have prevented the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso.
The state should invest in community violence prevention by creating a statewide office of violence prevention and supporting local community violence intervention programs. These proven efforts target resources to individuals who are at the greatest risk of gunshot victimization — reducing gun violence and deaths.
Unsecured firearms in the home can result in suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings, and thousands of firearms are stolen in Texas each year and used in crimes. Safe storage education is a critical public safety tool.
Sixty percent of gun deaths in Texas are due to suicide. We can keep our veterans, youth, and other vulnerable communities safe through investing in firearm suicide awareness and providing resources for those in crisis.
In 2021, more than 70% of domestic violence victims were killed by firearm. Texas should ensure domestic abusers prohibited from possessing firearms do not have access to them. A comprehensive statewide protocol for the relinquishment of firearms would provide a process to follow.
Seventy-six percent of educators oppose arming teachers as a solution to prevent shootings. We support our educators and key stakeholders in opposing the expansion of firearms in our schools, courthouses, polling places, and other sensitive locations.
WHAT WE DO
We know that big change comes from small victories. That is why Texas Gun Sense focuses on effecting positive change through three main pillars: educate, collaborate and advocate.
EDUCATE
We educate the public, lawmakers, and the media about solutions to prevent gun deaths and injuries. We focus on activating our communities by advocating for investments in violence intervention and creating suicide prevention initiatives.
COLLABORATE
We collaborate with partners to advance gun safety initiatives at the state, local, and community level, doing meaningful work in our cities to make our communities safer and reduce gun tragedies. You can learn more about our work with the Texas Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence here.
ADVOCATE
We advocate for common sense, evidence-based policies that reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. We work diligently to advocate against damaging policies that put our public safety at risk.
If you are in crisis, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Ways To Give:
Texas Gun Sense is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.
TEXAS GUN SENSE
We prevent gun violence and other gun tragedies in Texas through education, partnerships, and policy change.
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