There is a temptation to seek comfort in the fact that Texas Governor Abbott is taking steps to seek solutions to the current school shootings.

Not so fast; his comments at the recent NRA convention override credibility.

The Texas Observer reported Abbott as saying, “The answer to gun violence is not to take guns away, the answer is to strengthen the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Abbott during his brief speech to about 5,000 firearm enthusiasts. “The problem is not guns, it’s hearts without God.”

He proposed expanding a Lubbock program, The Telemedicine Wellness, Intervention, Triage, and Referral Project whose goal is to identify at-risk students.

Considering Texas ranks near the bottom in mental health funding the program may prove to be helpful.

On the other hand, it smacks of a self-serving solution for school shootings, especially with mid-term elections approaching.

Isn’t this shifting the focus to teenagers as the cause as opposed to enacting sensible gun control measures?

What behavior identifies an at-risk teenager?

Any parent who has ever raised a teenager will attest they are walking bundles of raging hormones; works in progress. They can have mood swings, bad grades, depression and suffer from bullying, and still not pose a threat to others.

Who would monitor and maintain some semblance of privacy for the teenager?

How would one develop a uniform profile for an at-risk teenager?

Would a teenager who is being treated for depression be considered “at risk?”

School shootings in European countries are rare. Perhaps it is time for us to look to a global solution.

The rights and liberties of gun owners seem to be more important than the rights and liberties of children. Elected officials need to man up, stop feeding at the NRA trough.

Read what  Nicholas Kristof, of the NY Times suggested.

Victimizing teenagers is not the answer.