Why 18-year-olds can buy AR-15s in Texas but not handguns
This week’s massacre in Uvalde highlights disparities in how federal laws regulate rifles and handguns. The shooter bought two rifles days after his 18th birthday. Full Story
Nineteen children and two adults were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022. It is the deadliest shooting ever at a Texas public school. We’re covering the aftermath of the shooting and the policy discussions that have followed.
This week’s massacre in Uvalde highlights disparities in how federal laws regulate rifles and handguns. The shooter bought two rifles days after his 18th birthday. Full Story
Officials clarified the timeline of the shooting Thursday after giving varying accounts. They refused to answer many questions about the tactics. Full Story
After the Uvalde mass shooting, GOP leaders are again pushing to boost school security. But similar legislation after a 2018 school shooting has fallen short of its goals, and experts said there’s no evidence such tactics work. Full Story
The press conference is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. Central time and comes after news reports quoting local residents saying that law enforcement did not enter the school fast enough. Full Story
Bleachers of the Uvalde County Fairplex were packed with young children, families and other community members Wednesday night in a mass vigil for the victims of Tuesday’s school shooting. Full Story
Texas requires schools to have emergency plans and conduct safety drills. But a lot of decisions about safety are left to school districts and charter schools. Full Story
Many in this small South Texas town of about 15,000 residents had ties to Robb Elementary, where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers on Tuesday. A day later, residents sought to help and begin healing their community. Full Story
Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Here are some ways people across the world can help the grieving community of Uvalde in the aftermath. Full Story
After previous mass killings during his more than seven years in office, Abbott has pledged that lawmakers and his administration would search for solutions. He made no substantive suggestions Wednesday. Full Story
As the news of the Uvalde shooting spread through schoolyards and homerooms on Wednesday, experts advise openness when talking with kids. Full Story
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are also scheduled to attend the event but their offices have not commented on their attendance since the shooting unfolded in Uvalde on Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to speak, said Wednesday he still plans to attend. Full Story
O’Rourke’s disruption drew angry responses from the elected officials onstage, with Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin calling him a “sick son of a bitch.” Full Story
A spokesperson for Abbott said he had previously committed to the event but all campaign-related activities are postponed until further notice. Full Story
Abbott was publicly criticized by his Democratic opponent for governor. Abbot also said he wasn’t sure if he would attend the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting later this week. Full Story
The governor said the 18-year-old gunman shared each step of his rampage on Facebook, but the social media giant says they were private text messages — not public posts. Full Story
He brought only one of the rifles with him into the elementary school, according to the briefing. The other was left in a truck he crashed nearby. Full Story
Families gathered at the city’s civic center to await news about their children following the elementary school shooting. Other residents processed their shock and grief in places of worship. Full Story
As President Joe Biden vowed to enact stricter gun laws following the Uvalde shooting, top Texas Republicans worked to create distance between the shooting and potential gun restrictions. Full Story
We know what comes next. Another scar hardens on the state’s collective psyche, but little is done to prevent the next one. Full Story
Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders signaled an openness to some gun restrictions after recent mass shootings. But in the last several years, lawmakers have eased gun laws, most notably by passing a permitless carry bill last year. Full Story