AUSTIN — A measure that would temporarily remove guns from people who show signs of violence has failed for years in Texas, but that could change in 2019 with President Donald Trump pressuring states to pass the legislation.

So-called "red flag" gun laws aren't new in the Lone Star State, where Sen. José Rodríguez, an El Paso Democrat, has unsuccessfully pushed for the legislation since 2015. His measure would allow family members or attorneys to petition judges to temporarily prohibit potentially dangerous people from owning, buying or controlling guns.

But Rodríguez is cautiously optimistic that 2019 could be different in Texas. Last month, the Trump administration called on every state to adopt their own "extreme risk protection orders" and directed the Department of Justice to assist them.

"Frankly, I'll believe it when I see it," Rodríguez said of the White House's support. "But it is good that they're talking about these types of protective orders."

Rodríguez's proposed legislation, authored by El Paso Rep. Joe Moody in the House, followed other states' red flag gun laws. California, Oregon, Washington, Indiana and Connecticut have adopted the laws, and Florida recently added a similar measure as part of its comprehensive school safety package in early March.

The gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety reports that 22 state legislatures are considering similar bills in the wake of the Florida high school shooting, after it was revealed that multiple people told law enforcement that they were concerned about Nikolas Cruz.

Red flags that could temporarily block an individual from accessing firearms in Texas’ proposed bill include substance abuse, a history of threatening violence or a criminal record.

Under Rodríguez and Moody’s legislation, the order would be issued for one year and could be renewed for an additional year after a hearing. A hearing could be requested after the order has been in effect for 90 days.

“This is just one tool or one approach in trying to address the incredible levels of violence in our society,” Rodríguez said.

State advocates such as the pro-gun control group Texas Gun Sense and the Texas Municipal Police Association backed Rodríguez's 2017 bill, saying the measure could lower the number of suicides, mass shootings and murders committed by a firearm in Texas. But the Texas State Rifle Association, a gun advocacy group, called it an "anti-gun bill" and celebrated its failure.

Alice Tripp, the association’s legislative director, said the bill failed to properly address mental health screening and only confiscated guns, leaving possible weapons like knives and baseball bats accessible to people under risk protection orders.

Tripp said she did not know if the group would support the bill during the next legislative session in 2019.

“I would still be seriously concerned if the only thing done was for someone to confiscate firearms — not knives, not the other things,” she said. “Somebody needs help, not just to take away one thing that’s politically motivated.”

The powerful National Rifle Association has fought red flag legislation in at least 17 states, according to USA Today. However, under pressure after the Florida shooting, Chris Cox, executive director of the group's lobbying arm, said in a video that Congress should provide funding for states to adopt the "risk protection orders."

“This can help prevent violent behavior before it turns into a tragedy,” Cox said.

In a pinned comment under the video, the NRA wrote that it opposes current laws in California, Oregon and other states because “they do not protect due process rights.” The group said risk protection orders should allow confiscated firearms to be held by “law-abiding third parties,” law enforcement or a federally licensed gun dealer.

Rodríguez plans to re-introduce the bill in the 2019 legislative session but said he isn’t sure gun groups and GOP lawmakers will support it. Republican lawmakers have yet to approach him, and Gov. Greg Abbott ignored a question about risk protection orders while on a recent trade mission in India.

“The White House is starting to point out maybe these are things that they should do at the state level,” Rodríguez said. “I see that as frankly deflecting responsibility at the national level.”

President Donald Trump has not backed any federal legislation, although two bills in Congress have bipartisan support.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act in March, which includes "red flag" behaviors that could indicate a person's potential for violence and cut off their access to firearms. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson introduced a similar bill a few weeks later.

Rodríguez said there’s a renewed sense of commitment, as with after every shooting.

“It remains to be seen what impact the students are going to have,” he said days after the March For Our Lives gun control rally organized by students across the country. “I am optimistic that hearing them and the eloquence and the commitment that they seem to exhibit to this issue is going to be making a big difference.”