Groups rally, urge officials to cut their ties with NRA

GUN VIOLENCE

A group of students and parents from around Hays County have launched a petition asking political candidates and officials to reject the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The Citizens of Hays Against Needless Gun Extremism (CHANGE) Coalition announced the petition on Friday with a press conference in front of the Hays County Courthouse. Groups that are involved in CHANGE are Wimberley High School Indivisible, March for Our Lives-San Marcos, Jack C. Hays High School Young Democratic Socialists and Wimberley Indivisible.

Gabi Perez, president and founder of Wimberley High School Indivisible, said the petition is meant to call out officials who openly support the NRA.

“Today we’re here taking a stand against that,” she said, adding that the group is asking officials to stand with the students of Hays County.

The CHANGE coalition’s specific target is Will Conley, the Republican candidate for Hays County Judge.

“Conley has represented Wimberley for years and is now running for judge — the most powerful seat in county politics — while proudly touting NRA membership on his campaign website,” a press release from CHANGE reads.

“We, the CHANGE Coalition, urge all local candidates and officials to renounce their support for the NRA in order to show the students of Hays County that their lives are of more value than support for the NRA,” the press release quotes Perez as saying.

Michael Clarke of March for Our Lives San Marcos, and organizer of a town hall on gun violence held Saturday in New Braunfels, is quoted as saying, “The policies advocated by the National Rifle Association do not reflect the view of the majority of Texas or Americans. The NRA is in the interest of protecting the organizations that finance the majority of its operation, those being gun manufacturers. If Will Conley, state Senator Donna Campbell and other Hays County elected officials do not disassociate with the dangerous message of the NRA, then the young people of Hays County will vote them out of office and put in candidates who will protect us.”

At Friday’s press conference, Clarke said that Democratic candidate for Texas Senate District 25 Steven Kling was slated to attend Saturday’s town hall in New Braunfels, but Sen. Campbell had not responded to a hand-delivered invitation.

The petition asking Conley and other politicians to end their support for the NRA can be found at https://bit.ly/2JkXOm6.