86R13433 CLE-D
By: Reynolds H.C.R. No. 88
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Polls show that a majority of Americans support
stricter gun laws, including universal background checks,
mandatory waiting periods for gun purchases, and a ban on the sale
of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; and
WHEREAS, A 2018 national poll found that 67 percent of
Americans support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons,
which are weapons with military features that enable shooters to
spray large amounts of ammunition quickly; semiautomatic rifles
with a detachable magazine and a pistol grip are among the assault
weapons that two-thirds of Americans believe should be banned from
sale; and
WHEREAS, National polling also indicates that 53 percent of
Americans support a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines; a
majority of Americans are aware that when high-capacity magazines
are used to give a mass shooter more rounds of ammunition, deaths
and injuries rise sharply; an investigation into mass shootings in
the United States found that high-capacity magazines were used in
half of the shootings between 1982 and 2012; and
WHEREAS, The high level of support for universal background
checks reflects concern about the "gun show loophole" that allows
as many as 40 percent of all gun sales to be completed without a
background check of the gun buyer; polls show that 97 percent of
Americans and 97 percent of gun owners support universal background
checks; and
WHEREAS, National polls also show a high level of support for
mandatory waiting periods for gun purchases; 83 percent of
Americans believe that a "cooling off" period between purchasing
and obtaining a gun would save lives; and
WHEREAS, Americans support an assault weapons ban and other
stricter gun laws because such laws would make us all safer; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to pass
stricter gun laws, including a ban on the sale of assault weapons;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.