City of Houston Mayor’s Commission
Against Gun Violence

In March of 2017, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced plans to establish the Mayor’s Commission Against Gun Violence. The announcement, made at a downtown Houston rally and march that drew thousands of people, was made in solidarity with March for Our Lives, the national student-led gun violence prevention movement.

The mayor, who has a lengthy legislative record advocating for schools and for responsible gun use, is inspired by young people who have organized to educate elected officials and the public about the need to improve school safety and effectively address gun violence issues on school campuses.

In May of 2017, he announced the names of 37 individuals who represent a cross-section of the Houston community to serve on his new Mayor’s Commission Against Gun Violence. The diverse group includes students, parents, physicians, law enforcement officials, gun-rights advocates, gun violence victims and members of faith-based and civil rights organizations, with Haley Carter as Chair.

Haley is a native Houstonian, MBA, retired United States Marine officer, former Houston Dash soccer player and a 2nd year law student at the University of Houston.

Mayor Turner gave the commission the time and resources it needed to research and submit recommendations. He has asked the commission to provide recommendations before the next school year starts in the fall, and the rest before the start of the 2019 session of the Texas Legislature.

Shortly after a Santa Fe High School student was charged with killing eight classmates and two teachers, the Mayor announced recommendations submitted by the Commission in a report that focuses on making schools and communities safer, increasing public awareness for the safe use and storage of firearms, and relying on technology to prevent campus shootings.

In February, the Mayor and Commission publicly announced their recommendations for the 2019 Legislative Session. They are divided into sections: those requiring legislation, budget amendments, and state administrative action.

The purpose of this website is to provide information to Houstonians, lawmakers, and the media about the Commission, their recommendations, and the legislative status.

Quick Facts

A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) study reviewed over 1,500 ATF investigations and determined that approximately 26,000 firearms have been diverted from legal to illegal commerce at gun shows, and that gun shows are a “major trafficking channel.”

States requiring background checks on all handgun sales experience significantly fewer firearm deaths:

  • 47% fewer women were shot to death by their intimate partner;
  • 47% fewer individuals took their own lives with a firearm;
  • 53% fewer police officers shot and killed in the line of duty;
  • 48% fewer guns trafficked intrastate.

3D Printed Guns are firearms that can be made anywhere in the world with very inexpensive materials and a 3D printer.

The combination of suicide and access to firearms is particularly dangerous; 90% of attempted suicides by firearm are fatal.

Our Recommendations

Legislative Recommendations

  1. Active Shooter Building Codes
  2. Institute Background Checks at Gun Shows
  3. Ban on 3D Printed Firearms
  4. Establish a Red Flag Law/Protective Order Working Committee

Administrative Actions

  1. Implementation of Standard Response Protocol Measures
  2. Mandate for Active Shooter Training Drills for School Districts

Budget Amendments

  1. Required Establishment of Threat Assessment Teams and Mental Health Counselors
  2. Allocate Funding to Facilitate Required Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Trauma-Informed Trainings by Educators.
  3. Expand Funding for Mental Health First Aid Training for Law Enforcement
  4. Expand Funding Dedicated to Harris County Psychiatric Center
  5. Authorize Funding to Evaluate Transmission of Mental Health Records from Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)

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Newsroom

Lawmakers explore school safety solutions at the Texas Capitol

At a Senate hearing Monday, members of a select committee discussed mental health training and security cameras. But they failed to reach consensus on school architecture and metal detectors.

Texas Tribune • 6/11/18

A ‘red flag’ law in Texas might have saved my brother’s life [Opinion]

If a “red flag” law existed in Texas, my brother may still be alive. He had a clear pattern of erratic behavior, domestic disputes and post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in the military.

Houston Chronicle • 1/31/19

Acevedo to Congress on gun control: ‘Doing nothing is not acceptable’

Characterizing gun violence as “one of the greatest public health epidemics facing the nation,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo pressed Congress on Wednesday to pass a red flag law and tighten background check requirements this year, adding that saving one life is enough to justify new restrictions.

Houston Chronicle • 2/16/19

Nine Months After The Santa Fe School Shooting, Lawmakers Want To ‘Harden’ Schools Without Changing Gun Laws

Hardening means potentially adding vestibules, metal detectors, security cameras and even paying for teachers to train to be armed school marshals.

Texas Standard • 2/13/19

Supporting Documents

picture_as_pdf 86th Session - Active Shooter Building Codes picture_as_pdf 86th Session - Background Checks at Gun Shows picture_as_pdf 86th Session - Ban on 3D Printed Firearms picture_as_pdf 86th Session Red Flag Law picture_as_pdf 86th Session State Budget Amendments and Administrative Changes