Hey Abbott!

 “Our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred. I have been in contact with Mayor Whitmire and offered the full support and resources of the State of Texas, including Department of Public Safety officers and Texas Rangers, to help this community and help bring swift justice to the criminal who committed this heinous act. Join Cecilia and me in praying for this community during this difficult time and for the brave men and women in blue who acted quickly to respond to this tragedy.”

That's what Governor Greg Abbott had to say about the shooting that occurred in Joel Osteen's megachurch this past Sunday. I suppose we can all agree that everything's bigger in Texas, since Pastor Osteen's parish is housed in what used to be an NBA arena where the Houston Rockets used to play. Now it is packed with worshippers numbering in the tens of thousands every Sunday. It was between services on Super Bowl Sunday that Genesse Ivonne Moreno showed up with an AR-15 style rifle and opened fire. The shooter's seven year old son, who was dragged along on the occasion, was shot in the head during the gunfight that commenced as two off-duty police officers working security for the church fired back. Moreno was killed. The boy remains in critical condition. 

There are lots of ways this could be stirred. The most obvious thread to follow is Moreno's history of mental illness. That, coupled with a number of prior arrests and a very contentious custody struggle back in 2022, doesn't seem to correspond well with the fact that she bought the weapon she used at the church legally. This "heinous act" committed in a sacred place of worship was made possible by (wait for it) the gun laws in the state of Texas. Time will eventually sort out just exactly why a mother would bring her seven year old son to a megachurch to shoot the place up when her little boy in tow. Apparently there was a lot of trouble with Ms. Moreno and her ex-husband as well as her neighbors who had been trying to get authorities' attention for months. 

They are now paying attention. Hearts, thoughts, and prayers. Thanks Governor Greg.