I was born here, in Texas. Lived here every single day since, coming up on 64 years.

I love my state. I’m proud to be a Texan. Although, being one in summer gets a little uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, Texas is getting a lot of attention these days, for the worst imaginable reasons, making me far more ashamed than proud.

Chiefly among them, all the shooting and killing going on here, most recently at a shopping mall in Allen, just north of Dallas. Some guy rolled up in the parking lot, got out of his vehicle, and just started shooting people randomly, including children. As of now, there are eight people dead, including the shooter.

Incidentally, this was one of three reported mass shootings in the US on Saturday.

The one in Allen comes just a week after a mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas, where people were killed by someone who was mad at his neighbors for asking him to stop firing his AR-15 rifle outside, so their baby could sleep. After basically telling them, “It’s my yard, and I’ll shoot if I want to,” the neighbors threatened calling the police, so he got that AR-15 and shot them, instead. He killed five people, including a nine-year-old boy.

After the Allen shooting, the customary useless “thoughts and prayers” emanated from Austin. I swear, there is no emptier phrase in the English language by now.

And if that’s not bad enough, here’s the brilliant solution proposed by one Texas Representative, according to several news sources:

“A Texas lawmaker has proposed a bill to ensure that children as young as eight-years-old receive annual training to man bleeding control stations. (italics mine)

“Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins — who has proposed the law — has said that since the mass school shooting at Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde that killed 19 fourth graders and two teachers, children should receive this training to save lives, according to CBS Austin.”

Yeah. Train school kids how to stop their classmates from bleeding to death. Don’t tell us we don’t take action! We can’t prevent your getting shot in the first place, but you’ll be shown how to use a tourniquet.

Now, some other reasons I’m ashamed of Texas these days include:

“Texas is leading the country when it comes to clean energy. But that hasn’t stopped state Republicans from introducing a bevy of new legislation that aims to stifle the state’s thriving clean energy industry, according to several recent news reports.” (insideclimatenews.org)

“HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Republican-controlled Texas Senate has just passed a bill that would let Gov. Greg Abbott and his appointees overturn elections in Harris County. It comes in response to the 2022 mid-term elections last fall, in which Democrats performed better than expected.”

“CNN — The Texas Senate passed a bill Thursday requiring each public school classroom to display a copy of the Ten Commandments, a move that drew backlash from civil liberty advocates who say lawmakers should not dictate what religious materials students are exposed to.”

“Five women are suing Texas over its near-total abortion ban, saying they were denied abortion care despite having complications that put their lives and fetuses at risk.” (Austin-American Statesman)

“Texas AG Ken Paxton probing Austin children’s hospital following video of social worker discussing transition-related care” (Texas Tribune)

And that’s just a sample, folks.

I’m not a drinking man, but do you see how easily I could become one?

But, what do you expect from a state whose biggest political names are Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton and Ted Cruz?

It’s maddening, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s mightily depressing.

Fortunately, though, there are some fellow Texans who believe, as do I, that we can, we MUST, be better than this.

And we will be. Just don’t know when, exactly. But my love for Texas hasn’t wavered, despite the actions (or inaction) of some of her “leaders.”

This is still my home, and I ain’t leaving just because of a few irresponsible blockheads.

Greg, Ken, Ted, and the rest of you, what is our state motto? Let me remind you:

DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS!!!