Updated at 10:05 a.m. on Wednesday with a quote from Dallas Rep. Eric Johnson, and at 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday with information about the Dallas-area participants invited to Gov. Greg Abbott's roundtables.

AUSTIN — Victims, educators and family members from Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe and other communities affected by shootings will discuss gun safety and school preparedness this week in Austin.

Immediately after the shooting Friday at Santa Fe High School, Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would convene talks on how to better keep kids safe in the classroom. These discussions will take place Tuesday through Thursday in the state Capitol and will include "parents, teachers, students, legislators, and interest groups that advocate for and against further gun regulations."

Those affected by the November shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs will take part, as well as the January school shooting in Italy, Texas, and the 2016 suicide at Alpine High School in Brewster County.

Wylie ISD Assistant Superintendent Craig Bessent, Garland ISD Superintendent Ricardo Lopez and Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa will attend the discussions Tuesday, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Joe Straus and lawmakers from both parties.

Members of the public can share their thoughts online. The meetings "will be open to the media at the beginning and conclusion of the discussion," Abbott's office said Monday.

"I am seeking the best solutions to make our schools more secure and to keep our communities safe," Abbott said in a prepared statement. "I look forward to hearing from all sides of the debate, and from expert perspectives on these issues. Working together, we can ensure a safe learning environment for students and safer communities for all Texans."

Gyl Switzer, executive director with the gun control advocacy organization Texas Gun Sense, said her group has been invited to take part in the Wednesday afternoon roundtable. They will push for universal background checks, she said, penalties for not storing guns safely, suicide prevention and so-called red flag laws that prevent people who are perceived to be threats from accessing firearms.

At a news conference Friday announcing the roundtables, Abbott said he hoped to discuss "speeding up background checks" and keeping guns out of the hands of those "who pose immediate danger." The governor elaborated on these policy suggestions over the weekend, adding metal detectors on campuses, mental health screenings and social media checks on students to his list.

Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old Santa Fe student, admitted to the shooting and has been charged with capital murder. He used his father's shotgun and handgun in the rampage, which left 10 teachers and students dead and more than a dozen injured.

1 / 4After being recognized with other graduating high school seniors, a student worships during service at Arcadia First Baptist Church in Santa Fe(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 2 / 4Worshippers embrace during worship service at Arcadia First Baptist Church in Santa Fe, Texas, Sunday, May 20, 2018. On Friday morning May 18, 10 people were killed and 13 were injured after a shooting at Santa Fe High School. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 3 / 4Texas governor Greg Abbott greets worshippers before a worship service at Arcadia First Baptist Church in Santa Fe, Texas Sunday May 20, 2018.(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 4 / 4Church members sit in the pews during worship service at Arcadia First Baptist Church in Santa Fe, Texas, Sunday May 20, 2018. (Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer)

In addition to the roundtables, a handful of politicians from both parties have asked the governor to call a special session of the Legislature to pass new gun safety and school preparedness laws before the next school year.

"This is on our own front porch," Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, said Monday. "If we don't act, we're doing the people of Texas a great disservice.

"Talk is cheap."

Rep. Chris Turner of Arlington, who heads the House Democratic Caucus, also said lawmakers should act on this — and other — issues before they're scheduled to reconvene in January for the 2019 legislative session.

"There should be a special session to address gun safety/school security, in addition to addressing ongoing Hurricane Harvey recovery needs," Turner said.

Over the weekend, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Democratic candidate for governor Andrew White called on Abbott to convene a special session. House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, also made the call Monday.

"If we act now, we can implement policy and appropriate state funding to ensure our schools will be safer before the next school year begins in August," Cook wrote in a letter to the governor. "If we wait until the next legislative session which begins in January 2019, then another full school year will have occurred without legislative support or action.

"Please consider this request for a much-needed special session."

But Eric Johnson, a Dallas Democrat who wants to take over as speaker, said Tuesday reconvening the Legislature early would only be helpful if there was agreement on what new laws to pass first: "What we do not need is a 30-day, million dollar special session that amounts to a taxpayer subsidized political commercial for legislators."

Only the governor has the power to call state lawmakers to convene a special session. Abbott has not commented on whether he wants to do that. Straus, R-San Antonio, and Patrick also have not returned inquiries about whether they think lawmakers should come back for a special session.

Villalba, whose tenure in the Legislature is ending this year after he lost his bid for re-election, said he hopes the roundtable participants issue some clear recommendations that lawmakers can act on this year. Cracking down on gun accessibility and honing school safety measures should receive bipartisan support, he added, especially after Friday's shooting.

"There is one issue that all members of the Legislature, city council, mayors, governors can agree on — we have the duty to protect all of our children in public schools," Villalba said. "This one is one that transcends partisan politics."