The Texas State Senate has passed House Bill 3053, which could soon prohibit local governments from organizing gun buyback programs designed to reduce the number of firearms in circulation. This ban would effectively shut down initiatives such as San Antonio’s Weapons Exchange Program, which has successfully collected over a thousand unwanted firearms, according to District 9 City Councilman John Courage, who labels the legislation as irresponsible and detrimental to public safety.
Republican State Senator Bob Hall argues that these buyback events are ineffective and a waste of taxpayer money, stating they do little to address gun violence. Meanwhile, Councilman Courage defends the program, emphasizing that every weapon turned in is safely destroyed, and he believes the push against buybacks is fueled by lobbyist money from the gun industry. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Greg Abbott to become law, making the debate over gun control in Texas more critical than ever.
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