So how many mass shootings have you covered?

God, I don't know.

A lot.

I've been doing this for 40 years.

Ross Ramsey is the executive editor of the Texas Tribune.

I called him up because I wanted to talk about guns in Texas, especially after the last

month. The Odessa Police Department confirms that at least one suspect, possibly two,

were driving around the region. They're randomly shooting at individuals. They have confirmed

at least 20 people have been killed at that mass shooting in El Paso, Texas. Texas grieves from the people of El Paso today.

So you get a little bit cynical watching these and seeing a series of incidents, a series of mass shootings,

and the conversation after each of them is maybe this is the one that will change

the conversation. And to date, none of them has been the one that changed the conversation,

certainly in Texas. Ross follows this conversation, like he's predicting the weather,

watching politicians like he's tracking a storm.

So you watch what they say right after the event, but then you develop a reflex for waiting and seeing what they say two weeks after the event.

You know, after this initial shock goes by and after this is not in the daily headlines, then what are we talking about?

After El Paso and Odessa, Texas's governor promised action. The status quo in Texas is unacceptable, and action is needed.

Beto O'Rourke began advocating for a mandatory gun buyback.

Americans who own AR-15s AK-47s will have to sell them to the government.

But Ross, Ross was focused on someone else.

Dan Patrick is the one that surprised everybody.

He's from the conservative end of the Republican pool.

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