A rational conversation on guns.

Since the tragic shooting in West Texas, state politicians have been outspoken in their responses and cries for action. Senator Ted Cruz offered prayers and even wound up scheduling a discussion with gun rights activist Alyssa Milano. Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke on the other hand said the f word and laid out his plan for gun confiscation, while selling shirts to monetize his remarks. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued eight executive orders in hopes of empowering citizens and law enforcement against potential gunmen.

And then Lt. Governor Dan Patrick did something unexpected.

The self-proclaimed “solid NRA guy” came out in support of expanding background checks. The staunch social conservative stunned many by declaring his support for legislation that would eliminate stranger-to-stranger gun sales without a federal background check. Though, he didn’t go as far as to endorse the House-passed HB8 legislation, and he also put some blame on violent video games, it is clear the tide is changing.

While there is no doubt the push to “Do something,” has never been stronger, the issue really boils down to what to do next.

The problem is that simply just doing something is not an answer. However, doing nothing is just as dangerous, both politically and in terms of actual loss of life.

Unfortunately, when it comes to gun control, common sense is typically more of a misnomer and when it comes to gun safety proposals, “Do something!” often reveals itself to be “do what we want.”

After Greg Abbott issued his executive orders following the August 31st shooting, the anti-gun Left immediately poured in their messages of disapproval. O’Rourke just tweeted a passive aggressive snarky remark claiming the proposals didn’t mention anything about guns. He failed to make a relevant point or even acknowledge that the orders did in-fact address stopping potential gunmen, but it still got the attention and acclaim of the furthest on the left pushing for gun confiscation.

The fact of the matter is, that between Abbott’s executive actions, and the Grassley-Cruz legislation, it is the GOP who was trying to do something helpful, but since it wasn’t exactly what the gun control lobby was pushing for, it was immediately dismissed without the slightest hint of consideration.

Nothing could illustrate this point more effectively than the reactions of Alyssa Milano and the father of a Parkland High School shooting victim, Fred Guttenberg. These two could not be more ideologically opposed to Ted Cruz when it comes to the Second Amendment, but all three left the polite conversation with positive messages of civility and unity moving forward. They didn’t agree exactly on proposed legislation, but they discussed it with respect and understanding in hopes of combatting a gun violence issue, that we can all agree has become far too prevalent.