The Increasing Mass Shooting Incidents in Texas

Article 1 

The increasing mass shooting incidents in Texas have become a public policy issue. In the last decade, Texas has experienced seven mass shootings, which the public and policymakers have responded by demanding legislative measures to prevent future occurrences. Mass shootings put public safety in jeopardy as children and adults are at risk of being injured or killed. The public is alarmed by the mass shootings they can be stopped by implementing the right legislatives. Most of the reported mass shooting were carried out by lone shooters attacking public spaces. By implementing gun control measures, the state can mitigate gun-related crimes and regulate where people are allowed to have guns. Legislative approaches to minimize gun access will reduce cases of mass shooting in Texas. Accessibility to guns by the public makes it easy for individuals with ill intentions to purchase a gun and attack. Thus, it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that there are policies that regulate how the public accesses firearms. For instance, background checks should be conducted for all gun owners to ensure that those who have handguns use them appropriately. 

Reference 

Cai, M., and Fernández, S. (2019). Texas had 7 mass shootings over 10 years. Meanwhile, gun control has loosened statewide. The Texas Tribune . Retrieved from: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2019/texas-10-years-of-mass-shootings-timeline/?_ga=2.17717625.1114198792.1573636781-1424287807.1573636781 

Article 2 

The U.S Supreme Court's decision to stop the execution of Murphy due to the claims of religious discrimination in the prison system highlights significant concerns in the legal system. Murphy is an inmate who had been on death row for heinous criminal offenses, which included escaping from prison and murdering police officers. However, before his execution, Murphy filed an appeal with the U.S Supreme Court to stop the execution process. Murphy's claims are valid and prompt the judiciary system to ensure that all inmates facing the death sentence have access to spiritual leaders from their respective religions. Unlike Christians, who receive the guidance of a spiritual leader before their execution, Buddhists do not have the same privilege. Therefore, the ruling is justified, as Murphy argued that he would have wanted to connect with Buddha as he faced his death. However, since he was not a Christian, he did not have access to faith-specific spiritual guidance. This case draws attention to the gaps that exist in the legal system and the need to address the issues arising. Murphy’s case can be identified as a form of discrimination since he is denied specific privileges due to his religious affiliation. Through this case, the judicial system can assess how inmates can receive equal treatment during and before their execution to avoid such instances of discrimination. 

Reference 

Mccullough, J. (2019). Federal judge delays execution of “Texas Seven” prisoner over claims of religious discrimination. The Texas Tribune . Retrieved from: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/11/07/texas-execution-halted-patrick-murphy-buddhist/ 

Article 3 

The state of children that are held in border patrol stations raises questions about the policies implemented by the Trump administration in curbing illegal immigrants. The political decision to ensure that unaccompanied minors would be detained in these patrol stations has highlighted gaps in the U.S migration system. The Trump administration has failed by exposing the children to unhealthy living conditions in a bid to eliminate the issue of illegal immigrants. Thus, they should implement effective policies to address the immigrant issue without threatening the lives of children and adults. The issue of illegal immigrants in the U.S has existed for years, and implementing appropriate legal and social policies will assist in curbing the issue. Furthermore, detaining children will not completely eradicate the issue; thus, long term legislative policies are necessary. The federal government needs to remove the children from the detention centers as this violates their basic human rights. The children are not only exposed to poor health conditions but their safety in the facilities is not guaranteed. Moreover, the government has broken the law by detaining the children for 95 days, which is more than the 20 days permitted by the law. Immigrant families affected by the detention process need to be re-united and legal action taken to ensure that they are safe and healthy. 

Reference 

The Texas Tribune. (2019). A Trump administration strategy led to the child migrant backup crisis at the border By Neena Satija, Karoun Demirjian, Abigail Hauslohner, and Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/11/12/trump-administration-strategy-led-child-migrant-crisis-border/