Sometimes Republican and Democratic lawmakers can work together.
Even on something so controversial as gun control.
The Texas state House of Representatives voted 116-28 to require reporting of involuntary mental health hospitalizations for minors age 16 and up to the federal background check system for purchasing forearms.
The Texas Senate had already passed the bill -- unanimously. Now it goes to Gov. Greg Abbott.
State law already requires courts to report involuntary adult mental health hospitalizations, but an investigation by ProPublica and the Texas Tribune found such reporting was not being routinely done for juveniles.
This bill passed Wednesday would close the gap.
Some pro-gun groups labeled the bill a "red flag law" an said it would stigmatize youths and deny them their rights under the Second Amendment.
That's nonsense. Texas allows anyone who has been involuntarily committed for mental health care to go to court and get his or her right to purchase and own a gun restored. This is jut just common-sense legislation that will, with any luck, help keep firearms out of the wrong hands.
And i looks like lawmakers on both sides of the gun control debate see that.