Ex-US Army Officer Calls for Gun Control After Texas Mall Shooting

After witnessing a mall shooting in Allen, Texas, former police and army officer Steven Spainhouer is pushing for gun reform. Spainhouer, a “gun lover,” wants to ban high-powered guns to avoid mass shootings. He rushed to the mall when his son contacted him to report a shooting and gave CPR on several victims before emergency personnel arrived. The gunshot killed eight and injured seven. The assailant, Mauricio Garcia, was slain by police after expressing interest in white supremacy.

The Gun Violence Archive reports over 200 mass shootings and 20 mass deaths in the US this year. Despite this, Congress has failed to restrict access to high-powered firearms, and Texas has even allowed people to carry guns without a license or training. A plan in the state assembly would require elementary school students to learn battlefield-style tourniquets to halt bleeding after a mass shooting.

Despite data that just 5% of violent incidents had mental health linkages, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has blamed widespread violence on inadequate mental health treatment. Spainhouer said an automatic gun with rounds murdered the victims, not a mental illness. He thinks US mass shootings require real gun regulation.

Spainhouer, a “gun lover,” calls for gun regulation after providing CPR on victims of a horrific massacre. US gun violence underscores the need for genuine change.