On June 21, 2021, nearly a year before the massacre in which an 18-year-old boy cold-blooded killed 19 elementary school children in the United States, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law. seven laws to facilitate access to weapons. Even one of the implemented regulations allows people to legally carry firearms without a license.

The debate on handling weapons is open, at least that was suggested by a speech given by President Joe Biden hours after the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde, about 135 kilometers west of San Antonio.

“When are we going to do what we have to do? In the name of God, when will we stand against those who support arms? I’m tired of all this. We need to act. We cannot prevent all tragedy. But let’s reduce them, ”President Biden said, saddened and shocked, in a message broadcast from the White House.

But Tuesday’s mass shooting, which killed 19 children and two teachers, came a year after lawmakers dramatically expanded gun rights.

Under the argument of keeping Texas as a “fortress of freedom”Governor Greg Abbott signed seven laws into law on June 21, 2021, one of which allows people to legally carry firearms without a license.

In a fiery speech and accompanied by representatives of the National Rifle Association, Abbott boasted that day that “Texas will always be a leader in Second Amendment defense, which is why we built a barrier around gun rights” .

To be precise, the local Congress passed legislation on May 23 of last year allowing so -called constitutional carry, which means law -abiding Texans over the age of 21 no longer need a license to carry guns in public. The law began on 1st September.

Until then, accessing the weapon was not very complicated as it was sufficient with the approval of the local or state police who gave the go-ahead after a background check and fingerprinting.

The license is granted for five years to those over 21 years of age who have passed a six -hour practical course, written exam and shooting exam.

However, under the new law, Texas became a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State” against new federal gun control regulations.

Thus, all requirements were removed and it was only enough to be 21 years old to access the weapons. Meanwhile, the exams have been replaced by a free online course.

Beyond public shootings, guns have become a deadly element in gender -based violence cases in the United States, where guns are killed every year. over 600 women.

In the midst of this panorama, Biden urged to confront the “arms lobby” and vowed to “do whatever needs to be done” to stop the wave of attacks on schools.

The task will not be easy because, as reported ClarionAmerican society is the most armed in the world. In a country with about 320 million inhabitants, there are 270 million small arms, according to the Small Arms Survey.

GRB