Houston police chief pleads for 'God's forgiveness' for inaction on school shootings

Houston police chief: It's time to ask 'God’s forgiveness for our inaction' on gun violence

Police chief of major Texas City of Houston has publicly called for “God’s forgiveness” for inaction in preventing US school shootings following the Friday carnage of 10 people at a nearby Santa Fe high school.

“This isn’t a time for prayers, and study and inaction, it’s a time for prayers, action and the asking of God’s forgiveness for our inaction (especially the elected officials that ran to the cameras today, acted in a solemn manner, called for prayers, and will once again do absolutely nothing),” said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo in a Facebook post.

Acevedo further called on people not to post about how “guns aren't the problem and there’s little we can do,” noting that he will continue to speak out on the issue and insisting that he doesn’t believe God bestowed gun rights.

“The hatred being spewed in our country and the new norms we, so-called people of faith are accepting, is as much to blame for so much of the violence in our once pragmatic Nation,” the police chief added.

The development came as Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who remains a major opponent of any gun control measures, also called for action of Friday following the Santa Fe school shooting that killed eight students and two teachers while injuring several more.

PressTV-At least 10 dead in Texas high school shooting

Multiple people are shot dead in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in the US state of Texas, US media reports have said.

"We need to do more than just pray for the victims and the families," Abbott proclaimed at a news conference. "It's time in Texas that we take action to step up and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again in the history of the state of Texas."

The governor further asserted that he will announce several proposals for new gun laws. According to the local daily Dallas Morning News, the plans would “speed up background checks” and prevent people “who pose immediate danger” from obtaining guns.

Another deadly high school shooting in Georgia

This is while US news outlets reported yet another school shooting Friday night at a graduation ceremony in Mount Zion High School in Jonesboro, Georgia in which one person was reported killed and another wounded.

Authorities said shots were fired at a Mount Zion High School parking lot after an argument between people who had attended a graduation ceremony for the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools.

The graduation was held at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, about 20 miles south of Atlanta.

Multiple media outlets report the dead woman was shot several times in the chest. The other woman was shot in the leg.

It was unclear whether a suspect was in custody in connection with the shooting.

Clayton County schools Supt. Morcease Beasley on Saturday tweeted his congratulations to the more than 200 Perry graduates, but he also expressed sadness over the "senseless violence & death."

Three juveniles nabbed in Oregon high school for gun possession

Moreover, three juveniles were also taken into police custody on Friday in connection with earlier reports of a possible weapon on the Lebanon High School campus in city of Albany, in the western state of Oregon.

According to local reports, all Lebanon schools were placed on lockdown starting at 10 a.m. after a student reported seeing another student with a handgun. However, no one was injured during the incident.

A police investigation revealed that three subjects were in possession of the gun, which they passed among themselves inside the school. After interrogation of students, police found the weapon, unloaded, at a Lebanon residence. The gun had been reported stolen from a Lebanon residence.

All three students were arrested without incident. According to a press release from the Police Department, "with the cooperation of witnesses, people of interest and their parents, they are in custody for possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon in a public building or court facility, first-degree theft, first-degree disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of a firearm and hindering prosecution."

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