By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
County commissioners court members voted unanimously to support a call by the city of Uvalde and Uvalde County to raise the minimum age to purchase a high-capacity style rifle from 18 to 21.
But the unanimous support came only on the court’s second vote on the resolution and only after its members met behind closed doors in executive session during the court’s meeting Tuesday.
The resolution was placed on the court agenda as follows: “Discussion and possible action of approval of a resolution supporting the efforts of the county of Uvalde and the city of Uvalde resolution adopted on July 11, 2022, requesting the Texas governor call a special session of the Texas Legislature to consider raising the age limit of purchasing high-capacity rifles from the age of 18 to 21.”
County Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton, the sole Republican on the court, had asked the item be placed on the agenda.
After County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. announced the item, Nettleton said, “I feel very strongly on this issue when it comes to what happened in Uvalde. We don’t allow an 18-year-old to buy cigarettes. We don’t allow an 18-year-old to drink. We don’t allow an 18-year-old to purchase a handgun.
“I think they should have the right to buy a regular hunting rifle or shotgun, but just the thought that an 18-year-old can walk into a gun store, purchase two AR-15s, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and multiple clips and walk into a school and do what happened in Uvalde, is wrong on so many levels, that it didn’t raise one single red flag, it didn’t capture anybody’s attention whatsoever, is just wrong,” Nettleton said.
“I’m going to have a lot of people, since I’m a Republican, who are going to say that I’m anti-Second Amendment, and that is not the case. If they want to call me anti-Second Amendment, so be it. If they want to call me a RINO (Republican In Name Only), so be it.
“I don’t agree with the fact that an individual is able, at the age of 18 years old, to do what was done in Uvalde, Texas. I have children and grandchildren at these schools here, and I don’t want to be the one that has to drive up there and identify my child because we didn’t attempt to do something, whatever it may be,” the commissioner added.
Nettleton said he doesn’t believe any bill raising the age limit will actually pass in the state legislature, but said Uvalde is doing the right thing, and he believes Val Verde County should support those efforts.
“This is not about gun control. I don’t support banning all guns being bought by 18-year-olds. I think you should still be able to buy a bolt-action rifle or a shotgun to go hunting. But just the simple fact that this didn’t raise one single red flag whatsoever really, really bothers me, and I tossed this around for awhile as to whether I would put it on the agenda or not, but I feel strongly about it. It’s not right, and I don’t want to have to be the one to go deal with this one day, and I don’t want the parents in this community or in any other community to deal with this.
“I do not want to see this happen in Del Rio, Texas, or Comstock or Eagle Pass or Brackett or any other school. We have to do something, and that’s why I put this on the agenda. I think supporting Uvalde’s efforts is the right thing to do. I don’t think it’s gun control in any form or fashion. I think it is simply doing what needs to be done to make sure that we protect the children in our school system,” Nettleton said.
After speaking, Nettleton made a motion to approve the resolution supporting Uvalde’s resolution and to send a copy to the offices of the governor, the lieutenant governor, the Speaker of the House, Sen. Roland Gutierrez, Rep. Eddie Morales and Rep. Tracy King.
Owens then called for a second, and his request was met by a resounding silence from the remaining three members of the court.
After it became clear that none of the other commissioners would second Nettleton’s motion, Owens said he would give the second.
The county judge then asked for a roll call vote, and County Commissioner Pct. 1 Martin Wardlaw, County Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez and County Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores all voted against the motion. Nettleton’s motion failed on the 2-3 vote.
The court went on to consider other business and then went into executive session, a closed-door meeting in which the court may consider issues like lawsuits, personnel matters and land purchases, among others.
After the court returned from executive session, Owens announced the court would revisit the gun resolution item.
Owens made a motion to revisit the item, with Flores giving the second. The court voted unanimously to reconsider the item.
Nettleton again made a motion to adopt the resolution, with Flores now giving a second.
The county judge again took a roll call vote, with every member of the court now voting in favor of the motion.
None of the commissioners who had earlier voted against the motion gave a reason for their reversal.
—
Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
