In campaign ad, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggests mandatory 10-year sentence for gun-related crimes

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to reporters at a press conference on Feb. 18. (Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune)

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is making the increase in violent crime a major point of his reelection campaign, most recently proposing to imprison people for at least 10 years if they’re convicted of any crime while using a gun.

“Texans are fed up with violent crime and skyrocketing murder rates,” Patrick says in a campaign ad that began airing this week. “To stop it, I will pass legislation next session to add a 10-year mandatory jail sentence to anyone convicted of using a gun while committing a crime.”