Fort Hood renamed for real American hero

PLUS: The commencement speech UH's Class of '23 won't hear

 ͏  ͏  ͏

View in browser Get Unlimited Digital Access for 25¢! Support local, independent journalism. Subscribe Today. Good morning. A father rushed to a mall north of Dallas after his son made a panicked call and found the victims of the latest mass shooting last Saturday before most first responders. He turned over a mother who died shielding her child, who came out covered from head to toe in her blood. The former army and police officer described the carnage as unfathomable. Yet, it was only a week earlier that two women were shot execution-style while they shielded several children during a mass shooting in San Jacinto County north of Houston. And it was not even a year ago that two Uvalde teachers died trying to protect their students. This morning, the relatives of the children killed in Uvalde are at the Capitol in Austin. For months, they've traveled there nearly every week pleading with any lawmaker who will listen to pass the most of modest reforms, but one that could have saved their children. House Bill 2744 would raise the age limit for buying for certain military-style, semi-automatic rifles. All they want now is for the bill to advance out of the House Select Committee on Community Safety chaired by state Rep. Ryan Guillen, a Republican of Rio Grande City. Today is the deadline for bills to make it out of committee in order to be voted on by the House. Lawmakers dishonor the families by blocking a full debate and vote on a reform supported by most Texans. - The Editorial Board   Our picks   Photo: Sam Owens, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Lawmakers dishonor Uvalde victims with inaction By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Uvalde shooting victims say House Speaker Dade Phelan and State Rep. Ryan Guillen have failed to keep their promise to bring a bill that would raise the minimum age for purchasing an assault rifle to a vote.    Fort Hood renamed for real American hero By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Fort Hood finally renamed Fort Cavazos, elevating a native Texan who served his country in Korea and Vietnam instead of a traitor who fought for a slavocracy.   Please sir, more? Lawmakers tell foster children no. By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Why, over the years, has Texas so vigorously resisted a long-running, class-action lawsuit designed to radically reform a foster-care system that not only has failed to meet the most basic needs of these children but has actually placed them in harm's way?   The commencement speech UH's Class of '23 won't hear By Robert Zaretsky Next week, many graduating students at the University of Houston will not hear a guest speaker at their commencement ceremony. That's a shame: After so many upheavals during their time at UH, this graduating class merits more than a perfunctory send-off.   Giffords: Cleveland shooting shows gun industry's business model By Gabby Giffords Saving lives is not a partisan issue. It can't be, when our nation's gun violence epidemic touches every community.   Free TxDOT to build great bike, bus and train routes By Harrison Humphreys By law, roughly 97 percent of our state transportation funds are dedicated to highway expansion and maintenance. It doesn't have to be that way.   'Death Star' bill targets rebels. It will backfire. (Editorial) By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Death Star bills advancing in the Legislature would preempt local governments' ability to pass labor, employment, land use and other ordinances.    Vote Yes on Fort Bend ISD bonds By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Fort Bend ISD, the sixth largest school district in Texas, is hoping voters approve a $1.26 billion bond to address some long-standing concerns.   From our readers   You convinced me: Mattress Mack is mayor material W. Follis, Simonton: "Two days of background and content in the Chronicle have convinced me that Mattress Mack has done more for Houston than any politician has done in the past 50 years, and has the ability (and vision) to make Houston the greatest city in the nation."    If voting in Harris County was hard, blame Texas GOP Susan Hanley, Houston: Maybe if Harris County (and the other 253 counties) had expansive early voting hours, drive-thru voting, 24/7 voting at some locations, a simple mail-in voting system, and plentiful mail-in voting drop boxes, none of the obstacles to casting a ballot that Ms. Siegel cites would exist.   Texas GOP wants control of local elections Judith Peek Lee, Beaumont: "No one who looks at this can avoid connecting the dots to see the implications of negating lawful votes to get a different election outcome or to take over a county one party sees as turning in a different political direction."     Send us your letters and op-eds   We want to hear from you! Have an opinion or a response to one of our stories? Learn how to submit your op-eds or letters here or shoot us an email at viewpoints@chron.com.       Get Unlimited Digital Access for 25¢ Support local, independent journalism. Act Now SALE ENDS MAY 15 | Cancel Anytime Unsubscribe  |  Manage Preferences  |  Privacy Notice Houston Chronicle 4747 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027 © 2023 Hearst Communications