May 24 marks the first anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde. Texans are now reeling from yet another mass shooting, this one at an outlet mall in Allen. While we debate responses, the human toll — as well as the mental health impact — of gun violence continues to mount.
Texas legislators have currently allocated $33 million in the base budget to build a behavioral health campus in Uvalde, along with $23.9 million to operate the proposed campus and $30.5 million to expand therapy services for youths and families. As they move forward to decide how best to spend these state funds, it is paramount that they elevate the voices of those most directly affected by the horrific school shooting tragedy: the Uvalde community.