Rick Scott.Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty
Florida Sen. Rick Scott says he would be opposed to a federal bill raising the age at which individuals could legally buy firearms to 21 — despite the fact that he signed a bill into law doing exactly that while governor of Florida.
During his term as governor of Florida, Scottsigned into lawa bill that raised the age at which individuals could legally buy firearms in the state to 21. As CNN reports, Scott expressed his support for the measure at the time — and criticized the federal government’s lack of action.
“If you look at the federal government, nothing seems to have happened there,“Scott said when he signed the measureinto law weeks after the mass shooting Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “You go elect people, you expect them to represent you, get things done.”
While lawmakers on both sides of the aisle attempt to come to acompromise on gun legislationfollowing several recent mass shootings, Scott has been firm in recent weeks that he is opposed to “attacks” on gun owners.
“My focus is 100% on school safety & protecting our teachers & students,” hetweeted this week. “Taking rights away from law-abiding Americans is not the answer & nothing more than an attack on the 2nd Amendment.”
“Let me be clear: I am a gun owner, a member of the National Rifle Association and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” Scott — who is rumored to be mulling a 2024 run for the presidency — wrote at the time. “But the horror of Parkland demanded a swift, practical legislative response to try to prevent future such nightmares.”
Many of Scott’s Republican colleagues have continued to oppose gun reform measures, with some arguing that banning assault weapons — which President Joe Biden has advocated for — isn’t the answer, because the weaponsare used to protect against small animals.
Others have suggested that, instead of banning guns, the U.S. should focus onstrengthening doorsand adding security at schools.
To express your opinion on gun reform proposals to your own representatives in Congress, you can look them up and contact them here:congress.gov/members
source: people.com
