be back in touch soon.
For more reaction from Texas to
this mass shooting, Nicole is
the executive director of Texas
gun since, a not-for-profit
advocacy group.
Nicole, thank you for joining us
on this horrible day for your
state and for this country.
Have you heard anything else
about what has happened today
gives you any sense of where
this young man got these
weapons, what type of weapons
were used, anything about the
shooting you can tell us?
Nicole: When we respond to these
events, we don't focus on the
shooter, we focus on the victims
and survivors and the change
that is needed.
What I want everybody to know
into here is that we are
devastated.
I got involved -- and we are
angry.
I got involved in this work
nearly 10 years ago because of a
very tragically similar event at
the sandy hook school.
I had small kids of my own back
then and I got deeply invested.
In those years, we have seen
some of the most high-profile
mass shootings take place here
in Texas, and we also know that
there is every day gun violence
that disproportionately impacts
communities of color and we
don't hear about a lot of those
in the news.
We know we have a crisis, and
after some of these events, our
leaders promised action.
Governor Abbott date out of
school safety plan some very
sensible measures, some of the
same things we have fought for
for years in legislation.
Things that would keep guns out
of the wrong hands, to have guns
legally and temporarily removed
from individuals who are at risk
of harming themselves or others.
Mandatory reporting of lost and
stolen firearms to prevent
things like this from happening
again.
The legislature did not enact
those things.
The governor failed on his
promises.
And instead, today we are faced
with another horrific shooting
that might've been prevented.
Not only did the legislature not
pass those measures, but they
went in the opposite direction.
Last session they removed
licensing and training
requirements to carry a handgun
in public in Texas.
We feel like we are screaming
into the void.
William: After the Newtown
shooting, there was again this
promise from national leaders
that those types of changes to
try to address this problem
would be passed and failed here
in Washington, D.C.
Do you have any hope, and I know
say this every time we have one
of these tragedies, that surely,
this time, people will recognize
we need to do certain things.
Do you have any sense of hope
that this, now, another tragic
day, might move the Texas
legislature in the direction you
would like them to move?
Nicole: I spent many years
advocating in the legislature,
and last session was brutal.
As I said, it feels like
screaming into the void.
They have had their
opportunities and not only have
they failed, they have loosened
the already lacks gun laws.
I want them to hear me, but I
also want to address the people
and voters of Texas and say,
even if our lawmakers don't
support their thoughts and
prayers with action, you can
care.
You can demand action.
I know you all are hurting and
you all worry about your own
families and children and loved
ones today.
You can do something.
Please join with us.
We have to be one loud voice, as
a community, to let our
lawmakers know that they can't
just offer their thoughts and
prayers and then move on to
something else.
William: You've touched several
times on the since of futility,
that you are screaming into the
void.
Do you have any sense of hope
that this will change, that we
will be able to get our arms
around this crisis in America?
Nicole: You know, I have hope,
because I've seen this movement
grow and grow and grow, from
something smaller to something
big with a collective energy
across organizations and
communities.
I have faith that we will
continue to advance action.
However small, however big, I
think we will chip away and that
were going to play the long
game.
I don't know what the
legislature will do.
They have not shown that they
are committed to this change,
but I know that our movement is
committed to this change, that
eventually we will see the
change we want to see.
We have already seen some
changes, thanks to organization
like ours and our partners.
If we -- if we weren't there,
there will be no voice for
common sense.
I have hope in the movement and
in our communities.
William: Nicole golden from
Texas gun since, thank you very
much for joining us, and I'm
terribly sorry about the reason
we are talking today.
Nicole: Thank you, and our
hearts are with the uvalde
families tonight.