Evidence indicates that under Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP lawmakers, Texas has enacted or maintained policies that critics say have weakened gun control measures, correlating with increased gun deaths and challenges in preventing school shootings, suicides, and domestic violence-related murders.
Mostly True
Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP lawmakers have officially made it even harder in Texas to prevent school shootings, suicides, and murders by domestic abusers.
Texas Gun Deaths Surged 63% under Greg Abbott - GIFFORDS
Source: giffords.org
At a glance
Verified September 3, 2025Key Evidence
NBC 5 reports weakening of Texas gun laws despite deadly shootings.
nbcdfw.comnbcdfw.comTexas Governor, Lawmakers Blasted for Lax Gun Laws After Elementary School...
Giffords analysis shows a 63% increase in gun deaths under Abbott.
giffords.orggiffords.orgTexas Gun Deaths Surged 63% under Greg Abbott
Business Insider highlights victim families' disappointment post-Uvalde shooting reflecting criticism of Abbott's policies.
businessinsider.combusinessinsider.com5 months after the worst school shooting in Texas history, Greg Abbott easily...
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The claim that Gov. Greg Abbott and GOP lawmakers have made it harder to prevent school shootings, suicides, and murders by domestic abusers in Texas is supported by multiple sources highlighting the state's lax gun laws and rising gun violence under Abbott's administration. Specifically:
(NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth) reports that Texas has weakened gun control laws in recent years despite several deadly shootings, implying reduced regulatory barriers to firearm access.nbcdfw.comnbcdfw.comTexas Governor, Lawmakers Blasted for Lax Gun Laws After Elementary School...
(Giffords) provides data showing a 63% surge in gun deaths during Abbott's tenure, suggesting a worsening public safety situation related to firearms.giffords.orggiffords.orgTexas Gun Deaths Surged 63% under Greg Abbott
(Business Insider) notes public disappointment from victims' families after the Uvalde school shooting, reflecting criticism of Abbott's policies and responses.businessinsider.combusinessinsider.com5 months after the worst school shooting in Texas history, Greg Abbott easily...
However, none of the sources explicitly detail new legislation passed very recently (as of 2025) that directly makes it "even harder" to prevent these tragedies; rather, they emphasize a pattern of insufficient or weakened gun control measures over recent years. Additionally, some sources focus on political conflicts unrelated to gun laws.nbcnews.comnbcnews.comTexas Gov. Greg Abbott moves to amp up the pressure on Democrats who fled in...
texastribune.orgtexastribune.orgGov. Greg Abbott threatens Texas House Democrats with removal from office for...+1 more
Therefore, while the claim broadly aligns with documented trends of relaxed gun regulations and increased gun violence under Abbott's administration, the assertion that lawmakers have "officially made it even harder" recently is somewhat generalized without specific legislative examples in the provided sources.
In summary:
- Texas has weakened or failed to strengthen gun control laws despite mass shootings.
- Gun deaths have increased significantly under Abbott.
- Public criticism exists regarding the state's handling of school shootings.
- Direct evidence of new laws explicitly making prevention harder is not detailed in these sources.
This supports a mostly true verdict with some nuance regarding the timing and specificity of legislative actions.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source