On gun safety after Uvalde, look for Abbott, Texas Republicans not to budge

AUSTIN — Will the latest school shooting change the minds of any Republican politicians in Texas about gun safety policies? It’s hard not to be skeptical, judging from Gov. Greg Abbott’s vague statements Tuesday about “doing everything necessary” to prevent a recurrence. He didn’t even muster the emotion he flashed after some prior massacres in the Lone Star State.

In any large organization, the tone is set at the top. And as he hastily responded to the slaughter at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School, it was clear Abbott failed to take some passion pills before he went before the TV cameras.

If he couldn’t get choked up over little kids, is he likely to budge from the state GOP’s hard-line resistance to any changes in gun laws? In a word, no.

Abbott missed the uniqueness of the moment. Unlike the four previous major mass shootings on his gubernatorial watch (Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe, El Paso, Midland-Odessa – five, if you include the fatal ambush of five Dallas police officers almost six years ago), this one involved elementary students.

Yes, Abbott inserted the phrase “horrific tragedy” in his first sentence and, 50 seconds later, describing the perpetrator, whom he kept calling “the subject,” Abbott paused to inject two adverbs – “horrifically, incomprehensibly.”

But it was a curious performance in every way.

Speaking from Abilene, where, incidentally, he again reassured West Texans that the state is all over the Mesquite Heat Fire in Taylor County, and that pet and livestock shelters are still open, even if all humans evacuated last week are now safe, Abbott’s just-the-facts-ma’am affect could not have encouraged state residents who may be eager to see mental-health “red flag” laws and better background checks for gun buyers.

You could be forgiven for thinking it was another Abbott briefing on severe weather approaching Texas. He looked down at his papers and droned on, for stretches of up to 45 seconds, before again looking at the cameras – but conveying zero emotion.

“The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Department is the investigating agency and we will provide them and the city of Uvalde substantial investigative and patrol assistance,” he said. “We’re in the process of obtaining detailed background information on the subject — his motive, the types of weapons used, the legal authority to possess them; and conduct a comprehensive, crime-scene investigation and reconstruction; and identify and interview all witnesses and provide victim services and other support as needed.”

After past mass shootings in Texas, we’ve watched Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the two most influential leaders of state government and Texas’ dominant political party, speak, respectively, of possibly passing red flag laws and expanding background checks on some private sales. But by the time the next Legislature convened, they’d cooled their jets.

With more than seven months until next year’s session, it’s hard not to expect more of the same.

In the meantime, as Abbott’s news release on the wildfires late Tuesday advised, “Texans are encouraged to remain weather-aware and follow the guidance of their local officials to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”