ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - President Donald Trump surprised lawmakers on Wednesday by siding with Democrats on expanding background checks and raising the age limit to buy a rifle.
The next day, Senators made a bipartisan agreement to create a plan to end gun violence.
But with time ticking before the end of legislative sessions in Tallahassee and Washington, will laws be passed?
Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D - New York) pleaded with Congress to stop sending thoughts and prayers.
“America's gun violence problem isn’t going to go away unless Congress musters up the courage to address it head-on," she said. "We cannot continue to give the lip service of thoughts and prayers, and then do nothing. We have to act."
Some of the proposals lawmakers have discussed include:
- Bump stock ban
- Assault weapons ban
- Arming teachers
- 'Fix NICS' proposal
- Red Flag Law
- Increasing the age to buy a rifle
President Trump wants lawmakers to create one single bill that can be passed, but whether it will attract enough bipartisan support to pass is not clear.
10News reached out to Florida's two senators and some of Tampa Bay's representatives for their thoughts:
Sen. Bill Nelson (D)
Nelson took to the Senate floor Wednesday, urging Congress to act on common sense laws.
Nelson co-sponsored legislation that would ban the sale, transfer or manufacture of semi-automatic assault rifles, such as the AR-15.
It would also ban so-called “bump stocks” and high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds.
Nelson, who has called on Congress to expand universal background checks, has also cosponsored legislation that would close the so-called “gun show loophole” by requiring a background checks for the sale or transfer of any firearm, regardless of where it is purchased.
Nelson blamed Congress for mass shootings continuing to occur in our schools.
“So why does it? Why does this keep happening over and over again," he said. "Well, I'm going to tell you why. It's because of us. It's because all 100 members of this U.S. Senate and all 435 members down the hallway in the House of Representatives, it's our refusal to act."
Nelson does not support arming teachers.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R)
Rubio, who took the Senate floor Thursday afternoon, announced his plan to keep kids safe in school :
- The Stop School Violence Act would provide federal grants to strengthen school security and infrastructure as well as provide training to administrators, teachers and students to identify school threats and to report them.
He also suggested creating a school assessment and crisis intervention team consisting of law enforcement, various state agencies and local school districts to improve communication between each other.
- A gun violence restraining order would remove guns from individuals who pose a threat to themselves.
- Changes to the Federal Youth Promise Program so that a school district plan does not delay or discourage law enforcement to dangerous behavior.
- Strengthen background checks to fix the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
- A 'lie and try bill' that would require the FBI to notify states when someone not allowed to buy a gun tries to buy one and fails a background check so they can be investigated and prosecuted.
- Allowing prosecutors to go after 'straw purchases,' where a person prohibited from buying firearms uses another person to buy a gun on their behalf.
Rubio said he is open to looking at age limits on semi-automatic rifles and seeing what can be done with high capacity magazines, but feels both won't have bipartisan support.
“Do not hold hostage a piece of legislation that would work and that we all support, because it doesn't have everything you want," he said. "There are things we can act on and do and there are things we can continue to debate and perhaps do in the future but on the things that we agree on and they happen to be things that could have prevented this attack, let's get those done.”
Rep. Charlie Crist (D)
Crist tweeted that Gov. Rick Scott's plan to keep kids safe is “thoughtful” but says without an assault weapons ban, it will leave communities vulnerable.
Rep. Ron DeSantis (R)
DeSantis, who is running to replace Scott, issued the below statement.
"The tragedy in Parkland represented a catastrophic failure by the Broward County Sheriff’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have been clear that the FBI needs to provide full transparency to Congress and the personnel responsible for the failure need to be terminated. I also support the immediate resignation of Broward Sheriff Scott Israel as well as Governor Scott’s call for an independent investigation of the entire department.
Parkland demonstrated the need to provide adequate security at Florida’s schools. I support Governor Scott’s initiative to improve safety and harden these schools. While I don’t think any teacher or administrator should be required to carry a firearm, I believe that those who possess a concealed carry license and are so inclined should not be barred from doing so on campus. What is more, I think it’s important to establish a program so that we can enlist the help of retired military and law enforcement personnel to ensure that our students are safe while they learn.
The issue of mental illness has been a recurring theme among mass shooters in recent years and we need more tools with which to deal with this stubborn fact. Anyone who is a danger to themselves or to society should not be permitted to wreak havoc in our communities, be it with a firearm or via other means.
Given that the issues of bureaucratic incompetence, school safety and mental health demand immediate attention, I’m disappointed that the Florida Legislature is rushing to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens. When dealing with a right that is specifically enumerated in the Constitution, blanket restrictions that diminish individual rights are suspect. Better to focus on denying firearms to dangerous individuals, which avoids infringing on constitutional rights and is also more likely to be effective. The goal should be to keep our students safe, bring accountability to the officials and institutions that failed, and protect the rights of Floridians.
Will Congress get it done?
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students have made it clear that they want Congress to pass gun control legislation.
But 10News political expert Lars Hafner doesn't think it will happen in Tallahassee or Washington.
“They want assault weapons ban, is that going to happen at the Federal Level? No," he said. "Is that going to happen in the State of Florida? Not now. Can they raise the age to get assault weapons from 18 to 2? That has a better chance of passing. Harding the schools through bullet proof glass or increasing background checks with mental health also has a possibility of passing.”
If Congress does nothing, lawmakers will feel the wrath of their communities come mid-term elections, Hafner said.
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