Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is pushing for tighter gun control measures in the wake of a shooting at Lakewood Church, joining a chorus of local leaders calling for reform. According to the Houston Chronicle, Hidalgo said, "Part of our response to what is now just the latest tragedy like this, which is not unique is looking at how we can prevent an unstable person from accessing a gun."
In response to the incident where a woman with a history of mental health issues and past arrests legally obtained firearms and opened fire at the church, Hidalgo has highlighted the need for more stringent regulations such as a red flag law the shooter in question, 36-year-old Moreno, used an AR-style rifle during the incident which resulted in her being fatally shot by off-duty officers and left two others wounded, including her own 7-year-old son and a 57-year-old man.
Judge Hidalgo, steadfast in her commitment to addressing gun violence has been proactive in her approach, per her campaign website, linahidalgo.com. Her tenure has seen the rollout of initiatives such as the Gun Violence Interruption Program and the "Safe Surrender" program to prevent domestic violence offenders from accessing firearms, and steps to prevent the sale of guns to convicted criminals.
Moreover, following the Uvalde school shooting tragedy, Judge Hidalgo implored Governor Abbott to convene a special legislative session and has since been a vocal advocate for common-sense gun laws that aim to forestall such tragedies; she urged the Harris County Safe School Commission to delve into youth gun violence, seeking effective policy solutions based on evidence and the real-life impact of gun availability on the community's safety and well-being.
