Dan Patrick, both Republicans, canceled expected in-person appearances at the National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action’s annual leadership forum on Friday. There is no suggestion so far that the GOP’s drive in Texas to loosen gun laws — a core platform of Republican Party policy, is likely to change. Greg Abbott, who has made loosening gun laws a cornerstone of his reelection campaign, in a state that has seen a volley of recent mass shootings. In another outburst of Democratic frustration this week, Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke confronted Abbott at a news conference at which the governor was giving an update on the tragedy in Uvalde. And many, who still deny any correlation among the availability of high-powered weapons, lax guns laws and mass killings, are never ready to discuss safety measures.

Source: CNN May 27, 2022 18:49 UTC