The Shooting Comes Just One Week After the Mass Shooting in Cleveland, Texas Where a Man Shot and Killed Five of His Neighbors, Including an 8-Year-Old
ALLEN, Texas. — The Texas chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements in response to a mass shooting yesterday at an Allen, Texas mall. While details are still emerging, reports indicate at least eight people were shot and killed, and at least seven more were shot and wounded. Some of the victims reportedly include people as young as five-years-old. The shooting comes just one week after the mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas, where a man shot and killed five of his neighbors, including a 9-year-old.
“Here in Texas, we’re once again furious and heartbroken for the victims and the families of another senseless and tragic act of gun violence,” said Kat Vargas, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action, whose husband was a first responder at the shooting. “We seem to be in an endless cycle of gun violence taking the lives of our children and neighbors while our lawmakers do absolutely nothing to prevent it. We do not and should not have to live this way. We demand action from our leaders to prioritize saving our children.”
“This is yet another shameful day in our country where a trip to the mall turns deadly for innocent people.” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “While Texas lawmakers continue to prioritize their loyalties to the gun lobby over Texan lives, we are once again shown the deadly result of dangerous gun laws. Americans are fed up and demand lawmakers at every level of government take action to save lives.”
“We mourn the lives ripped apart by a heinous act of gun violence while simply shopping at a mall on a Saturday afternoon,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Mass shootings are not acts of nature; they are preventable tragedies caused by lawmakers’ inaction. Texas has weakened its gun laws amid record gun sales, yet gun deaths in the state are increasing. Lawmakers have the data and power to address our nation’s gun violence crisis, and there must be consequences for those who continually prioritize gun makers’ profits over public safety.”
Just last week, a man shot and killed five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old, in Cleveland, Texas. The one-year mark of the deadly Uvalde shooting, where 19 children and two adults were shot and killed, is just weeks away. Texas has an opportunity to combat gun violence and improve its gun laws by passing HB2744, which would raise the purchasing age for assault weapons from 18 to 21. Texas lawmakers should also enact an Extreme Risk law to empower loved ones or law enforcement to intervene in order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing firearms.
In an average year, 3,996 people die by guns in Texas, and 5,556 more are wounded. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Texas. More information on gun violence in Texas is available here. If you are interested in speaking with a Texas Moms Demand Action or Students Demand volunteer, or a policy expert please reach out to [email protected].