| 1 | 1 | | By: A. Johnson of Harris H.R. No. 74 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Houston-area residents were shocked and deeply |
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| 6 | 6 | | saddened by the tragic shooting death of Cesar Cortes on January 14, |
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| 7 | 7 | | 2020, at the age of 19; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A senior at Bellaire High School, Cesar Cortes was |
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| 9 | 9 | | the commander of the school's Junior Reserve Officers Training |
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| 10 | 10 | | Corps Delta Company; he was killed in the JROTC supply room before |
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| 11 | 11 | | drill practice when a younger cadet was showing off a handgun and |
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| 12 | 12 | | pulled the trigger, hitting Mr. Cortes in the chest; the shooter |
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| 13 | 13 | | was convicted of manslaughter in January 2021; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Cesar Cortes was an outstanding young man who |
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| 15 | 15 | | inspired others with his natural leadership ability; deeply |
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| 16 | 16 | | patriotic, he had already enlisted in the U.S. Army; he was quiet, |
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| 17 | 17 | | serious, and hardworking in school, and those who shared in his love |
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| 18 | 18 | | and friendship were drawn to his kindness, sense of humor, and |
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| 19 | 19 | | winning smile; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, The death of Cesar Cortes devastated his family, |
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| 21 | 21 | | including his mother Cecilia, father Antonio, and brother Dylan; it |
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| 22 | 22 | | also traumatized his school and his community; adding to the |
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| 23 | 23 | | anguish, several individuals reported only after the fatal shooting |
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| 24 | 24 | | that they had seen the younger cadet at school with the gun in his |
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| 25 | 25 | | possession earlier on that terrible day; moreover, the campus had |
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| 26 | 26 | | two previous instances of weapons possession reported in discipline |
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| 27 | 27 | | data for 2018-2019, and in that period, more than two dozen cases |
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| 28 | 28 | | were reported across the Houston Independent School District; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Cesar Cortes planned to devote his career to the |
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| 30 | 30 | | defense of his fellow Americans, and his life can best be honored by |
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| 31 | 31 | | ensuring that no other family endures the heartbreak and loss that |
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| 32 | 32 | | his loved ones have endured; now, therefore, be it |
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| 33 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 34 | 34 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Cesar Cortes and |
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| 35 | 35 | | express support for stronger firearms safety measures. |
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