Uvalde school board pushes Greg Abbott for special legislative session to increase legal age for purchasing assault rifles

Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District officials hear from residents about school safety and the response to the Robb Elementary shooting during a July 18 school board meeting. (Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune)

The Uvalde school board is formally urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call state lawmakers back to Austin so they can raise the legal age to buy assault rifles from 18 to 21, more than two months after a gunman used such a weapon to kill 19 elementary school students and two teachers days after he turned 18.

Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District trustees approved the largely symbolic resolution in a unanimous vote on the same night they voted to delay the start of the school year. Trustees moved the first day of school from Aug. 15 to Sept. 6 so that more security improvements can be made to campuses and district staffers can receive trauma-informed training.