New American Bridge ad slams Ron DeSantis for having no answers to school shootings

The left-leaning American Bridge group on Tuesday is rolling out a new 80-second digital ad spotlighting U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis‘ perceived evasions to answering questions about the Parkland school shooting.

The spot will be seen on Facebook and Instagram and will be geotargeted to young voters in the area around the Donald Trump rally in Tampa.

“Young voters across Florida are standing up and demanding politicians actually do something to prevent gun violence, but Ron DeSantis isn’t listening,” said American Bridge spokesperson Zach Hudson. 

“Ron DeSantis wants to be Governor, but when Floridians demand action to prevent their friends and family from being murdered, he just runs away,” Hudson added.

The spot juxtaposes news clips in the immediate wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with shots of DeSantis being confronted by either a reporter or a tracker in a stairwell, being asked why he won’t offer more than “thoughts and prayers” for the victims.

DeSantis did suggest he would offer solutions at an “appropriate time,” and chided the questioner for disparaging the power of prayer.

“Praying for people,” DeSantis said, “I don’t think you should diminish that.”

With the entire Democratic field advocating changes in gun laws, the eventual GOP nominee can expect to get peppered with questions along these lines through the general election.

On Monday evening, we asked the DeSantis camp to assess its gun policy, and if enough had been done.

As one would expect, they said yes.

“Within days of the tragedy in Parkland, Ron DeSantis offered viable solutions to secure our schools by employing retired military and law enforcement. He’s been clear about supporting the Guardian program and measures that harden schools and protect our students without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens. He’s met with survivors and victims families and he’s been a leading voice in Congress calling for accountability at the FBI and the removal of Broward sheriff Scott Israel,” asserted DeSantis spox Dave Vasquez.

“It’s unfortunate that the Democrats continue to use this tragedy to score political points,” Vasquez added.

The campaign also provided a quote from Andrew Pollack, whose daughter was one of those killed in Parkland in February.

“Ron DeSantis has been a leader in demanding accountability for those — from local officials in Broward County to federal officials at the FBI — who failed at their duties.  Ron is committed to securing Florida’s schools. He is one of the few people that I spoke with demanding accountability which means a lot to me and my family.” Pollack asserted.