From
says the aftermath of the mass shooting in his city has been difficult and community members are in shock, but they have also jumped into action to support each other.
鈥淪ome people were angry; you just run the gamut of the emotions," he says. "But the thing that really inspires me most are the stories that are coming out about citizen helping citizen."
Businesses are also pitching in. A local funeral home has paid for the funerals of all the victims. And, Turner says, United Airlines is flying families to the area for free to attend those funerals.
After the shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott visited the University of Texas Permian Basin, where he said that Texas given the frequency of these shootings. 鈥淭here is no issue we will not look at,鈥� he said during a press conference.
Turner says from his perspective, there needs to be a multifaceted approach. For one thing, he says 鈥渨e need stronger mental-health laws.鈥�
News outlets have reported that the shooter 鈥渨as on a of going down,鈥� but it鈥檚 unclear whether his actions were the result of mental health issues or even a mental illness. According to the American Psychological Association, 鈥淥nly a very small percentage of violent acts are who are diagnosed with, or in treatment for, mental illness.鈥�
If someone poses a threat to themselves or others, Turner says state law makes it hard to stop such a person in a moment of distress.
鈥淵ou can hold them for 24, 48 hours, and then you have to release them,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat is something that鈥檚 gonna have to be addressed.鈥�
At one point, the shooter when he tried to purchase a gun. But Turner says he鈥檚 troubled that the shooter was still able to acquire one later.
Turner is asking for prayers for victims still in the hospital, some of whom aren鈥檛 locals and likely came to the area because of the oil boom, he says.
He also says Abbott has 鈥渙ffered the full resources of the state鈥� to help with the city鈥檚 recovery. In one example, he and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have shut down claiming to raise money for shooting victims.
On Monday, Abbott tweeted that he鈥檚 鈥渆xpedited executions鈥� for those who commit mass murder. Turner says he鈥檚 still learning about how to respond to this kind of crime, but he鈥檚 inclined to agree with Abbott.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad we don鈥檛 have to spend tax dollars to go through the courts,鈥� Turner says. 鈥淭hat may sound very callous but when you鈥檝e stood beside the officers who have bullet holes in their arms 鈥� I鈥檓 mad as hell.鈥�
He urges state lawmakers to come up with an effective solution.
鈥淚 leave my faith in them because right now, I鈥檝e got everything that I can handle taking care of my citizens,鈥� Turner says.
Written by Caroline Covington.
Copyright 2020 KUT 90.5. To see more, visit . 9(MDAxODQzOTgwMDEyMTcyNjI4MTAxYWQyMw004))
