Bill Text: TX HR74 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Paying tribute to the memory of Cesar Cortes and expressing support for stronger firearms safety measures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-18 - Left pending in committee [HR74 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR74-Introduced.html
| By: A. Johnson of Harris | H.R. No. 74 | |
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| WHEREAS, Houston-area residents were shocked and deeply | ||
| saddened by the tragic shooting death of Cesar Cortes on January 14, | ||
| 2020, at the age of 19; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A senior at Bellaire High School, Cesar Cortes was | ||
| the commander of the school's Junior Reserve Officers Training | ||
| Corps Delta Company; he was killed in the JROTC supply room before | ||
| drill practice when a younger cadet was showing off a handgun and | ||
| pulled the trigger, hitting Mr. Cortes in the chest; the shooter | ||
| was convicted of manslaughter in January 2021; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Cesar Cortes was an outstanding young man who | ||
| inspired others with his natural leadership ability; deeply | ||
| patriotic, he had already enlisted in the U.S. Army; he was quiet, | ||
| serious, and hardworking in school, and those who shared in his love | ||
| and friendship were drawn to his kindness, sense of humor, and | ||
| winning smile; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The death of Cesar Cortes devastated his family, | ||
| including his mother Cecilia, father Antonio, and brother Dylan; it | ||
| also traumatized his school and his community; adding to the | ||
| anguish, several individuals reported only after the fatal shooting | ||
| that they had seen the younger cadet at school with the gun in his | ||
| possession earlier on that terrible day; moreover, the campus had | ||
| two previous instances of weapons possession reported in discipline | ||
| data for 2018-2019, and in that period, more than two dozen cases | ||
| were reported across the Houston Independent School District; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Cesar Cortes planned to devote his career to the | ||
| defense of his fellow Americans, and his life can best be honored by | ||
| ensuring that no other family endures the heartbreak and loss that | ||
| his loved ones have endured; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Cesar Cortes and | ||
| express support for stronger firearms safety measures. | ||
