October 9, 2015 1:01 PM

Dialogue around the details of gun issues tough to broker in Texas

Even Republican lawmakers who admit privately they would like to see issues like safety holsters included in discussions are dismissed as being anti-gun.

Andrea Brauer’s first run at building a coalition of stakeholders around gun issues is tougher – probably a lot tougher – than her work in early childhood education.

Brauer left Texans Care for Children six weeks ago with a small grant and an idea that some areas of agreement could exist between the pro-gun and anti-gun groups that sparred during the debate over open carry. Texas Coalition to Reduce Gun Violence, which is set to launch Dec. 1, is supposed to be that vehicle.

Gun violence is real, and it’s real whether you favor the use of firearms or not, Brauer said. But Brauer, who dealt with three different agencies over pre-kindergarten issues, has found that debate in Texas over firearms is far more contentious and emotional than debate over pre-kindergarten.

Some see a path to discussion, but even more of late see only a black-and-white issue, Brauer said. Even GOP lawmakers who admit privately they would like to see issues like safety holsters included in discussions are dismissed as being anti-gun.

By Kimberly Reeves