In less than an hour, three lives were taken in a North Austin Target parking lot. A 4-year-old girl. Her grandfather. A young man just doing his job, collecting shopping carts.

The gunman didn’t just shoot — he rampaged. Police say he shot multiple people, carjacked others, crashed vehicles, and assaulted random drivers in broad daylight. He had a documented history of mental health issues. And yet, he still had access to a firearm.

Texas has seen this before. Robb Elementary. Allen. Sutherland Springs. El Paso. Now, Austin. Families are being shattered by people who never should have had access to a gun in the first place. And still, Texas leaders have failed to act.

We are calling on the Texas Legislature and Governor Greg Abbott to pass gun safety laws that a majority of Texans already support. That includes red flag laws to temporarily remove firearms from those deemed a danger to themselves or others. It includes universal background checks for all gun purchases, including private sales. It includes raising the purchase age for semi-automatic rifles to 21. These measures won’t solve everything, but they can stop tragedies like this before they start.

These are not extreme demands. They are common-sense protections already in place in other states — protections that save lives. And right now, they are the bare minimum Texas families deserve.

The victims in Austin had no warning. No time to run. No chance to fight back. They should still be alive today. Their families should not be planning funerals. And Texans should not be bracing for the next one.

Thoughts and prayers are not enough — and they never were. Supporters say the time for political excuses is over. If lawmakers continue to ignore their duty, the public will remember.

We can’t undo what happened in Austin. But we can choose to act now — before it happens again.

Sign this petition if you believe Texas must finally act to protect children, workers, and families from preventable gun violence.