Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Sunday would not say whether he would support a law requiring the safe storage of firearms.
The Friday shooting at Santa Fe High School was believed to have been carried out with the gunman’s father’s pistol and shotgun. Responding to the shooting, Patrick urged gun-owning parents to “lock your guns safely away.”
“Should that be law?” CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Patrick in an interview Sunday.
“In many cases, there are laws, depending on the states, and I’m sure there is some federal law regarding your culpability in a crime using a gun if it is your gun, or if you own a gun,” Patrick responded.
Texas law, as in many other states, does impose some liability on adults who, through criminal negligence, allow children access to firearms they own. But the law applies to children under 17 years old — the alleged Santa Fe shooter was 17. The Austin American-Statesman found in 2015 that the so-called Child Access Prevention law had only resulted in 61 convictions since its implementation in the state in 1995.
Like most other states, Texas does not require guns to be locked or kept in a safe once in their owner’s possession — so called “safe storage” laws.
Tapper tried again: “Should it be law that you have to lock up your guns?”
“Again, Jake, depending on the state, I’d have to look at it–” Patrick began.
“What about Texas?” Tapper pressed.
“In Texas, again, we hold you very responsible if you are a gun owner,” the lieutenant governor responded. “For example, I’m a concealed carry, as are almost 1 million Texans. If I use my gun to stop a crime or to defend myself, and I fire a bullet that goes astray and strikes somebody else, I can be held not only civilly but criminally liable.”
Tapper tied once more: “There isn’t a law requiring safe storage.”
“Jake, Jake– ” Patrick began. “I didn’t come on with you this morning to go through the entire penal code of the federal government or the state.”
Watch below via CNN:
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on gun safety: “A gun ownership … that comes with responsibility of gun control in your home” #CNNSOTU https://t.co/HcWwFsu65x
— CNN (@CNN) May 20, 2018
Forget it Jake, It’s Texastown.
So it’s okay that a toddler can get a gun that’s left out on a table? Does this guy have grandkids?
Look, I thought you said dyeing, which, of course, I favor.
You have to have insurance to drive a car, you ought to be required to buy it if you own a weapon.
It’s that simple.
But…but…how can I fantasize about my guns if I have to lock them up?