Committee hears testimony on King’s raise-the-age bill

A Texas House committee on Tuesday listened to about five hours of testimony in connection with legislation long sought by families of Robb Elementary victims that would increase the age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21.

State Rep. Tracy O. King of Uvalde, in introducing House Bill 2744, told fellow members of the Community Safety Committee that prior to the Robb tragedy, he could not have supported a raise-the-age bill, but May 24 changed his life. 

“It changed everybody in Uvalde’s life and it shattered the lives of  21 families … and the truth is that had House Bill 2744 been the law in the state of Texas one year ago, 21 constituents of mine, plus the husband [Joe Garcia was the husband of slain teacher Irma Garcia] – probably, two heroic teachers, 19 innocent children would still be alive today,” King said.

Read more of Craig Garnett's reporting on the Uvalde Leader-News.