Gov. Greg Abbott on Gun Checks: 'Status Quo Is Unacceptable'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called on lawmakers Tuesday to pass legislation that fixes some of the holes in the gun background check system.

"It's clear that the status quo is unacceptable, and everybody in every state must take action," Abbott said, according to The Texas Tribune.^[1]

Abbott, a Republican, addressed reporters in Austin after casting an early vote in the state's Republican primary.

Abbott's comments came in the wake of last Wednesday's deadly high school shooting^[2] in Florida, which left 14 students and three staff members dead. He asked Texas officials to examine the Lone Star State's gun laws to see if they need to be tweaked or improved.

Abbott will attend this weekend's Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., which kicks off Thursday.

"This is something that requires a national response, all 50 states working collaboratively together to find out the right solution," he said, according to the Tribune.

Abbott is not the only Republican calling for reforms to help curb the gun violence epidemic. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., wants some form of gun control, while President Donald Trump said Tuesday he supports a ban on bump stocks.^[3][4]