As extremist threat rises, Latino Texans say gun ownership is ‘matter of survival’

In the US, gun purchases by Latinos have surged in recent years - including among self-described progressives. Some are anxious about being armed but feel they have little choice

On a crisp Sunday afternoon in Royse City, Texas, 32-year-old Cesar Hurtado unzipped a hardshell case to reveal a custom-built AR-15-style rifle in his living room. Emblazoned on the side of the gun is the tagline no war, no gods, no masters".

Hurtado's interest in firearms started with hunting, but after the 2019 Walmart shooting in El Paso that targeted Latinos, Hurtado felt he had to embrace firearms for his own protection. For white gun owners, they feel they have a right to a gun," Hurtado said, but for Latino gun owners, it's a matter of survival and safety."