In the state of Texas, you must be at least 18 years old to buy a long gun – such as a shotgun or hunting rifle – and at least 21 to purchase a handgun. Despite this, some teenagers are still able to illegally get their hands on a gun.
Matt Powell shared that in his 23 years as the criminal district attorney for Lubbock County, it is never easy having to prosecute a minor.
“Unfortunately, I’ve worked several murder cases involving juveniles,” Powell said. “We’ve seen 16-year-olds commit the offense of murder, 15-year-olds commit the offense of murder.”
Powell said that often times in shootings involving juveniles, the firearm is stolen or the shooter will obtain the firearm through an illegal exchange with someone else. In some cases, the weapon may be a family member’s weapon that the teen was able to easily find and take. Regardless of how, Powell explained that it’s important to not shift the blame.
“While there are legal ramifications if you knowingly help someone commit an offense, it’s been my experience that it’s usually the individual who makes the choices that puts them in the position. I think we need to focus on the individual who commits the offense,” Powell said. “The more serious the offense, then the more serious the punishment is going to be. Unfortunately, we see juveniles all the time who will be tried as an adult. Once they reach the age of 17, they’re sent to an adult prison, which isn’t a great place for a young kid. I’ll help them any way I can until the point they’re committing offenses, and at that point, you don’t want me on that side.”
Angie Silvas, 40, of Afton, has felt and seen those consequences firsthand.
“I’m always in pain, like the pain never really … It’s just constant. Even a pat on the back hurts,” said Silvas. “When we were younger, it was limitless. We did anything we wanted.”
When Silvas was 14, she visited a friend’s house with her boyfriend at the time. While there, she said her boyfriend’s cousin, also 14, found a gun. He began to joke around while holding it and shot her in the face from across a table.
The bullet pierced through her chin and struck her spinal cord.
“Everything just went black,” recalled Silvas. “I don’t think he knew what he was doing.”
Six months between hospital beds and rehab took a financial toll on Silvas’ family. The once independent and athletic teen who liked to cheer, play track and football, suddenly became heavily dependent on her father.
“He was my strong arm. My dad lost everything,” she said. “The place, the car, because he stayed with me. Right there.”
Silvas shared that although what happened to her was an accident, she believes there is still a growing attraction in teens to guns.
“What happens if the bullet that was meant for you, kills your sister or your brother? Life’s not a joke, it’s not a game, and they’re (teens) playing a very dangerous one right now.”
In January, 17-year-old Brenden McGuire suffered from two gunshot wounds before being dropped off in front of University Medical Center. McGuire later died from his injuries, and a juvenile was charged with his murder.
For his grandmother, Linda Haynes, the incident itself still feels unreal.
“Like this didn’t happen, it shouldn’t have happened. Even to this day, it still don’t seem real, like a dream you can’t wake up from. I look for him (Brenden) and I still see him,” said Haynes. “Our last talk with him was, I would always tell him, ‘Don’t let the streets take you. You take the streets.'”
Haynes said she now hopes she can use her family’s story to help raise awareness of gun violence in today’s youth, and she encourages parents to have open conversations with their children about their safety and any issues they may be going through.
“Always talk to someone, talk with your parents about bullying at school, but taking a gun to school is not going to solve anything,” said Haynes. “I don’t wish this on any family.”
For Ed Clements, sales manager of Sharp Shooters, recent violent shootings involving teenagers give the sport of shooting a bad reputation. He said he and his staff make it a priority to do their best to safely inform and monitor any customers who walk through their doors. However, ultimately walking out of the store with a gun goes well beyond just the age restrictions.
“When people come in to buy a gun, we’re really observing people to make sure, you know, does this person seem, you know, that he has all his mental faculties,” Clements said. “If there’s anything that’s amiss, we’d rather be safe than sorry than go move forward with that sale.”
Once an ID is inspected, the customer must then fill out a Firearms Transaction Record, or a Form 4473. After completed, the buyer will then complete a background check to confirm they are the actual buyer. Clements explained that for those who already have their CHL (concealed handgun license), the process will be a little quicker.
Clements explained that anytime a violent shooting happens involving juveniles, he and his team will try to analyze what could have happened that put a gun in the hands of someone who should never have had one.
“We always like to step back and make sure we understand what happened in particular cases, in regard to ‘OK, how did this person get a firearm. What worked? What did not work?'” Clements said. “You know, it’s always exciting to see new people getting into the sport, and we need to make sure they’re getting off on the right foot and taking the proper safety procedures.”