Response of Al Green (D-Texas)

From the Houston Chronicle: "U.S. Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat, said Texas “absolutely” has a problem with hate crimes, the most recent example he said, being the “El Paso assassination.” “The person drove many hours to kill specific people, persons of Mexican ancestry,” Green said. “I think that’s pretty evident we have a hate crime problem.” He said the problem isn’t new, pointing to the 1998 murder of James Byrd, a black man dragged to death by three white supremacists in Jasper, which he said is “indelible in the mind.” “Not only do we have hate crimes in Texas, some of them are just horrific - they’re done in such a dastardly way as to shock the conscience,” Green said. Green pointed to the most recent Texas DPS data on hate crimes, from 2017, which showed 190 incidents in the state involving 229 victims. “That’s pretty significant, in my opinion,” Green said. “I sincerely believe we have a problem.” Green said Congress needs to pass gun control legislation immediately, saying “we need to have people go on the record” by bringing legislation up for votes. Specifically, Green backs expanded background check legislation passed in the House, though he said “I think we can go further” and require checks on all transfers of firearms. “If you transfer a car from one person to another, you have a title evidence of that transfer,” he said. Green supports red flag legislation, as well, and also called for additional training for gun owners, saying “you can’t drive a car without some kind of training,” and said Congress needs to pass legislation closing the so-called Charleston Loophole, which allows gun dealers to sell weapons without a background check on the buyer, if the FBI doesn’t complete the check within three days. He also said gun manufacturers should be held liable, pointing to the recent ruling that Johnson & Johnson should have to pay hundreds of millions in damages for its role in the opioid epidemic. “If you produce a lethal product, you ought not have immunity from litigation,” he said."