Texas Gun Safety Bill Advances Amidst Controversy and Protests.

A bill that would raise the age to legally purchase semi-automatic rifles lost its newfound momentum and was left off the Texas House’s agenda ahead of a key deadline, likely ending its chances of becoming law. The proposal has long faced stiff odds in a state that has regularly loosened gun restrictions in recent years. The opposition to the bill hasn’t been vocal in the Legislature, but Republican leadership is fiercely protective of gun rights and reluctant to advance anything that challenges them.