Daily Dispatch 2/21/23: Texas Dems Face Long Slog On Gun Safety, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: As primary voting begins, a review for progressives of why gun safety reform is so bogged down in Texas: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/mass-shootings-in-texas-have-shaped-the-democratic-primaries-18642421 In the Republican primary, Collin County will serve as a test of Ken Paxton's ability to sway voters: https://www.nbcdfw.com/decision-2024/collin-county-is-frontline-for-emotional-texas-house-primary-elections/3467634/ ...That said, Governor Abbott is backing incumbents Paxton has targeted: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/in-n-texas-governor-abbott-ag-paxton-back-different-candidates-in-gop-primaries/ ...And Donald Trump has his greasy hands in the soup too: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/02/20/trump-throws-weight-behind-rivals-of-four-texas-republicans-who-crossed-abbott-and-paxton/ ...The picture of an even-more-radical GOP House majority is none too pretty: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-house-radical-republican/ ...While a majority of Texas voters expect a violent election outcome this fall: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-20/most-texas-voters-think-violence-will-erupt-after-2024-election Ken Paxton has targeted an NGO that has operated migrant shelters in El Paso for decades: https://kvia.com/news/border/2024/02/20/texas-attorney-general-sues-el-pasos-annunciation-house-for-efforts-to-facilitate-illegal-immigration/ ...While the private prison industry is booming amidst a new crackdown on migrants: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-border-immigration-surge-geo-group-profits-detention-ethics-reform-bill-opposition-1871731 Texas anti-abortion activists, apparently bored, are targeting a new art installation at the University of Houston: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/university-houston-satanic-statue-18677691.php We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠ Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate