Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has requested the formation of two special legislative committees to investigate school safety and mass violence following last week’s shooting in Uvalde.
In a letter sent June 1, the governor asked Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan to each create a special legislative committee. The committees will examine actions taken by previous Legislatures regarding gun violence, review the resources available to local school districts and make recommendations to the Legislature and the executive branch in order to prevent future school shootings. According to a news release, the recommendations will surround the following topics:
- School safety
- Mental health
- Social media
- Police training
- Firearm safety
“As leaders, we must come together at this time to provide solutions to protect all Texans,” Abbott said in the letter.
Abbott asked that the committees be formed immediately. The Texas Rangers and the FBI will also continue to investigate the mass shooting and the response to it. As a result of the May 24 shooting, 19 Robb Elementary School students and two teachers died.
