Mitch Perry
Patrick Murphy is using the opportunity of receiving an endorsement from a newly formed gun control group to lash out at Marco Rubio‘s voting record on guns and gun safety.
The Democratic congressman from Jupiter became the third lawmaker to earn the backing of the “Pride Fund to End Gun Violence,” a political action committee formed in the wake of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June. Congressional District 7 Democratic candidate Stephanie Murphy and Hillary Clinton were the other two candidates.
“We’re turning grief and anger into action, and we’re working to create change in this election cycle,” said Pride Fund Executive Director Jason Lindsay in a conference call Tuesday morning. “Marco Rubio has consistently voted against commonsense gun violence prevention measures. He used the tragic mass shooting in Orlando as a reason to run for re-election … yet he’s continued to vote against commonsense gun safety legislation.”
Murphy went even further in denouncing his GOP Senate opponent when it comes to his voting record on guns.
“Right after 49 innocent people lost their lives in this state, Marco Rubio went back to Congress and voted against multiple proposals aimed at keeping guns out of hands of dangerous people who shouldn’t have them,” he said, referring specifically to the Florida Republican’s opposition to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins‘ bill to ban people on the no-fly list from purchasing a gun.
Collins’ bill would have restricted gun purchases by those the federal government has determined pose a terror risk and are either on the federal no-fly list or the “selectee” list, which means they undergo additional screening before boarding planes. It received 54 votes when it came before the Senate in June, eight short of passage. Only eight Republicans supported it.
“After Pulse, Marco Rubio didn’t listen to the Floridians demanding that he do something to help keep them safe from gun violence, and he isn’t listening now,” Murphy said, adding that “he stands with the gun lobby. He’s firmly in their grip, and for his support, they’re already spending big to keep Marco Rubio in the Senate.”
In July, the NRA announced its support for the Miami Republican.
