Texas House panel passes "raise the age" gun bill

• The chair of the House Select Committee on Community Safety had refused to hold a vote but changed his mind. Before the vote, gun control activists flooded the Capitol Rotunda with signs demanding that lawmakers advance the bill.

Driving the news: Republican Reps. Justin Holland of Rockwall and Sam Harless of Spring unexpectedly joined Democrats in an 8-5 vote to advance the bill to the full House by Monday's deadline.

Reality check: Even if the bill were already law, it would have done little to stop this weekend’s mass shooting because the alleged shooter was 33.

What they're saying: Dozens of Texans wrote in support of the bill before it was debated last month in the House committee.

• "Please support this bill," wrote Kristen Gardiner of Allen. "Raising the age to buy certain firearms is the smart, responsible thing to do."

The other side: Gov. Greg Abbott has dismissed polling that shows most Texans want tighter gun restrictions. He told "Fox News Sunday" that he wants the state Legislature to focus on approving $3 billion in mental health funding.

The bottom line: The bill is now eligible for a floor debate in the House.

• House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, has said he doesn't believe the bill will pass, but that he won't prevent it from being debated, per the Texas Tribune.