Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Cancels Shotgun Giveaway After Santa Fe School Shooting

On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot canceled plans to give away a shotgun made in the state after 10 people were killed in a shooting at a high school in Houston-area Santa Fe on Friday.

Greg Abbott Scraps Shotgun Contest

The contest has not been completely canceled, however: instead, the prize has been changed from a shotgun to a $250 gift card. On the giveaway’s website, Abbott is now shown holding the gift card.

Abbott — who is seeking re-election this year — first announced the contest on May 1. Several gun control activists in Texas quickly criticized the giveaway over the past weekend in the wake of the Santa Fe shooting, which CNN reported was the 22nd school massacre of 2018.

Andrew White — the president of conglomerate Sweat Equity Partners who is running for Governor as a Democrat against Abbott this year — also slammed the idea of the contest in a tweet over the weekend.

Abbott has vowed to take action after the Santa Fe tragedy, and said he would hold a roundtable discussion this week to determine what course to take.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, Abbott’s roundtable discussions will include the participation of districts that already arm teachers or that “have partnerships with local police.” The Governor has also reportedly voiced support for improving mental health programs in Texas.

The perpetrator of the Santa Fe shooting — the second in Texas in six months after a massacre at a church in Sutherland Springs in November 2017 — was a 17-year-old student at the school who reportedly obtained the weapons he used from his father in his own home.

Oliver North, the president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), said this week that he believes usage of ADHD drugs like Ritalin — as well as a culture of violent films and video games — is one of the main factors behind shootings. Many doctors have refuted the idea that Ritalin is in any way responsible for violent behavior.