Gun control advocates disappointed in Texas

In the wake of far more shootings than I care to name, it’s unsurprising that there are some in Texas who want gun control. While I’m unconvinced that it’s a majority or, if it is, it’s a strong enough majority to matter, the media is going to give those people a lot of attention.

Which, of course, they did here.

It seems some parents from North Texas spoke about gun control with lawmakers, but are displeased at the results.

It was an early morning leaving Plano. And a late night returning there.

A group of about 40 mothers and fathers from across Collin County made the 440-mile round trip to Austin on Monday.

They were hoping for productive conversations about gun laws in Texas, nine days after eight people were killed and another seven were injured when a 33-year-old man armed with multiple guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition opened fire at the Allen Premium Outlets mall…

“It’s depressing,” said Maury Marcus who lives in Plano. “I feel that there’s a partisan divide and the pro-gun faction has the upper hand.”

As she was leaving the Capitol rotunda, frustration was visible on Rekha Shenoy’s face.

“I don’t feel good, but I don’t want to give up. So that’s one thing I’m not doing – I’m not giving up,” Shenoy said.

The mass shooting in Allen was only the latest in Texas.

The Second Amendment shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but it has become one.

I get that these parents are concerned. They shouldn’t be, as I’ve noted previously, because, despite the media hysteria, actual mass shootings are pretty rare, all things concerned.

Yet that’s easy to say but harder for some to internalize. I understand it, but it doesn’t change reality.

So, they showed up and hoped their emotions would sway their audience. It didn’t.

The Democrats who already agreed with them still agreed with them. The Republicans who didn’t agree with them still didn’t.

That’s because if you were going to be swayed by emotions, you probably already were. Those who are going to decide safety is more important than freedom–and I don’t actually think those are contrary positions, but many do–already made that decision.

So people like this show up, let their emotions talk, then claim they weren’t listened to by pro-Second Amendment lawmakers. That’s because the only way to show a gun control advocate that you listened is by doing exactly what they want. You can’t listen and disagree. If you disagree, at least in their view, you didn’t listen.

Anyway, these parents left Austin disappointed. My hope is that they get used to it.

What happened in Allen was awful and I won’t sugarcoat it. However, if you think that wouldn’t have happened if he couldn’t get an AR-15, you’re deluding yourself. There was nothing done at that outlet mall that couldn’t have been done with some other firearm.

That’s why the focus has to be elsewhere. Gun control doesn’t provide us with answers. It simply covers the problem and lets people pretend they’re doing something.