The Tragic Shooting at Lakewood Church
February 15, 2024
This past Sunday, a woman brought her seven year old child and an AR-15 to Lakewood Church in Houston, a congregation attended by 45,000 people each week. The woman opened fire in the church. She was killed, and her child was critically wounded.
This incredibly tragic story did not have to happen. The shooter had a documented history of arrest between 2005 and 2022, on charges including unlawful carrying of a weapon, assault of a public servant, and assault causing bodily injury.
Yet, despite clear indication of danger, she purchased an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in December 2023.
Texas does not have sufficient laws in place to prevent those with documented dangerous histories from obtaining firearms. Expanded background checks can prevent sales to prohibited people, and an extreme risk protection order or red flag law could have allowed the shooter’s family to have her gun temporarily removed by a court. Her child could be safe today. Instead, he is fighting for his life, and tens of thousands of people who went to church on Sunday are now trauma victims.
It’s infuriating that this wasn’t the only major shooting this week; yesterday, a gunman killed one person and injured more than 20 in Kansas City, on the 6th anniversary of the shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Texas Gun Sense tirelessly advocates for common sense gun laws to prevent these tragedies. We need your help.
When you make a donation to Texas Gun Sense, we turn your support into action. Help us make the message clear at the Capitol: We need stronger background checks and extreme risk protection orders to save lives and prevent tragedy. Thank you for your support. Please add your voice today.
Nicole Golden
Executive Director
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