LWVTX Blog

In response to the March 1st shooting on West 6th Street in Austin, the League of Women Voters of Texas is once again calling for meaningful action to address gun violence in our communities and issued the following statement:

"We are heartbroken as we mourn the lives lost and stand with those who were injured, their families, and all who have been traumatized by this senseless act. No family should receive a late-night call that their loved one has been shot. No parent should have to text their child to make sure they made it home safely from an evening out. This is no way to live.

Our grief must be matched with resolve. Thoughts and prayers alone are not enough. Texans have the fundamental right to live, work, and gather in their communities without fear of gun violence. Lawmakers in Austin have the power and the responsibility to enact sensible, evidence-based policies that can help prevent future tragedies.

These solutions include:

• Requiring background checks on every gun sale or transfer.
• Implementing waiting periods between the purchase and transfer of a firearm.
• Restoring licensing and training requirements for handgun owners.
• Enacting Extreme Risk Protection Order (“Red Flag”) laws to allow courts to temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals in crisis.
• Prohibiting domestic abusers from accessing firearms.
• Restricting the sale and transfer of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
• Limiting magazine capacity to no more than 10 rounds.
• Strengthening safe storage requirements and firearm safety training.

Our community is grieving. We owe it to the victims, to their families, and to every person who calls Austin home to pursue policies that prioritize human life and public safety. We remain committed to working together to advance lifesaving solutions so that one day, gatherings on 6th Street, and everywhere in Texas, are defined by joy and connection, not violence."