After several sessions in which Texas lawmakers expanded gun rights, the pendulum is expected to swing in the other direction, thanks to the Las Vegas massacre, Democratic state lawmakers tell News Radio 1200 WOAI.
State Sen. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) says 'common sense' gun legislation is likely to take the initiative in the 2019 session.
"We can't stop a mad person, an evil person, from pulling the trigger, but we can reduce the amount of carnage," Menendez said.
He stressed that nobody will suggest 'taking people's guns away.' He says the the Legislature is likely to look at whether it is wise for citizens like Vegas gunman Steven Paddock to possess large magazines and the so-called 'bump stock' that allowed him to fire a lot of bullets in a short period of time.
"If he had not had the firepower that he had, there might not by 59 people dead and over 500 injured."
Menendez concedes it will be a rough road ahead. He filed a bill this past session to prevent people who are on the TSA's 'No Fly List' not to be able to buy firearms in Texas, but the bill didn't make it out of committee.
Menendez says the Vegas case proves that 'more guns' are not the answer in cases like this, pointing out that it is highly unlikely that a 'good guy with a gun' could have stopped a man firing through the 32nd floor window of a hotel across the street.
Menendez says he hopes the issue of guns will now be a topic in the 2018 elections.