Gun violence summit in Austin looks to find solutions

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin and Travis County law enforcement and political leaders, national experts and local shooting victims were all in one room Wednesday for the first-of-its-kind Gun Violence Summit.

"In the face of state and federal inaction, we have to act locally," said Austin Mayor Pro Tem Allison Alter. 

"Every strategy that could possibly reduce gun violence must be on the table," said Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza.

The closed-door summit was timed to coincide with summer, when Austin typically sees a rise in gun violence. It was already in the works before the Uvalde shooting, though the massacre gave these conversations new urgency.

"There’s not a reason why it hasn’t happened in Austin the same way that it happened in Uvalde, because it could certainly happen," said Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

But Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon points out mass shootings account for only a small percentage of gun deaths.

"And we have an overwhelming number of just other types of gun violence," said Chacon.

It’s a trend being seen nationwide, so the summit is studying other cities like Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago to see what they’re doing.

"So that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel where we have problems that are in common with other cities," said Alter.

But locally, officials say gun violence has less to do with gang activity, and more to do with guns in the wrong hands.

"It appears as if we just have way too many guns," said Adler.

"When a gun is stolen out of an unlocked car, it causes homicides," said Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.

That’s why leaders here want to educate and expand gun storage and firearm surrender programs, as well as mental health access.

"We must do more to identify people at risk of engaging in gun violence," said Garza.

"Looking at people who’ve been victims of trauma to provide them the care they need so gun violence is not perpetuated," said Travis County Judge Andy Brown.

The overarching goal: to forge real solutions before more lives are lost.

"We have a lot of talk, and then we don’t see things change very much, so there has got to be clear action," said Chacon.

Members of the public will have the chance to weigh in at a community meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in East Austin. That meeting is already at capacity, but you can join in virtually by signing up here.