A.G. Gancarski
Sen. Rick Scott is one of more than 30 Senate Republicans likely to vote “no” on a bipartisan gun control bill under consideration. On Thursday, he offered some context for his opposition.
Some commentators have invoked reforms Florida implemented in 2018 in the wake of a school massacre in Parkland — such as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act — as a model for the Senate legislation. But Scott went to considerable lengths to explain key differences in an extended statement from his Senate Office.
“Since the tragic shooting in Uvalde that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers, I have heard from many Floridians about the need to support commonsense legislation that follows the action Florida took after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. While there are elements of the bill now being considered in the Senate that I support, like the Luke and Alex School Safety Act that I have been fighting to pass for years, the Senate also unfortunately decided to take action that is not consistent with the aggressive due process protections that I fought for when I was Governor,” Scott asserted.
Scott bucked the National Rifle Association in signing his bill in 2018. He paid a political price with the base, albeit a small one. Over 11% of Republicans voted for perennial candidate Rocky De La Fuente in the GOP Senate Primary.
But now Scott is making it clear he won’t invest his political capital into what he sees as a flawed Senate product and process.
“Over the last two weeks, I’ve seen many people compare the bill being considered in the Senate to what we did in Florida. These bills are not the same at all,” Scott argues.
He then compared the work done by the Florida Legislature favorably to the work being done by his current colleagues.
“One was the product of a collaborative, well-defined and transparent process. The other was the result of secret backroom dealings that did not include input from the majority of Republican members, committee hearings, nor opportunities for amendments, giving members barely an hour to read the bill before we were asked to vote on it,” Scott contended.
“In Florida, we used a thorough process that included meetings with mental health, education and law enforcement experts to get valuable feedback on our bill. At the conclusion of that process, I signed a bill that improved school safety and has kept guns out of the hands of dangerous people and those suffering with mental illness, all while ensuring strong due process protections that stop unlawful infringement on the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Floridians,” Scott contended.
Still, Scott has taken ongoing criticism for the ban of gun sales to people under the age of 21. Scott has continued to defend that provision, saying in a recent interview that the law meant that those under 21 had to buy guns with their “parents.”
Scott continued to distance himself from the Senate product, which “abandons Florida’s model and allows even the most radical policies, like California’s red flag law, to be implemented and supported with federal funding.”
“Ironclad due process protections are essential to protecting the constitutional rights of Americans and we can NEVER compromise on that,” Scott asserted.
“This bill also allows convicted domestic abusers to have automatic restoration of their gun rights. People who have been accused, tried and convicted of beating their significant other would automatically get their gun rights back after just five years. I will not support soft-on-crime policies like this,” Scott continued. “As Governor of Florida, I always weighed past domestic abuse when considering a restoration of gun rights through the clemency process and I do not support efforts to allow someone who has been convicted of domestic abuse to have the opportunity to automatically get a gun.”
10 comments
meredith
June 23, 2022 at 9:35 am
This guy cannot lead or folliw. He has done jack in Congress on this issue. If he could have pursueded 9 other Republicans to go along with is better olan….he would have. But he didnt. Because he couldnt. Where is his bill, btw? In his own mind….
meredith shaw
June 23, 2022 at 9:36 am
This guy cannot lead or folliw. He has done jack in Congress on this issue. If he could have pursueded 9 other Republicans to go along with his better plan….he would have. But he didnt. Because he couldnt. Where is his bill, btw? In his own mind….
Johnny’s Got a Gun
June 23, 2022 at 12:55 pm
So it is alright to send an 18 year old to combat with a weapon but an 18 year old won’t be able to buy a weapon. Malarkey you liberals. It’s not the kid or the gun, it’s the parenting. And plus, all these shooters are either registered democrats or from families of democrats. I rest my case.
Meredith Lee Ayling Shaw
June 23, 2022 at 12:59 pm
Stupid and completely inaccurate. It is not liberals, but 90% of the American public that understand the difference between military members with background checks, security clearances and training, wielding weapons of war in war zones and 18 year old sociopaths, generally with racist and right wing social media ties taking out their anger and hate on unsuspecting civilians at home. Intelligent people get the difference.
john
June 25, 2022 at 11:29 am
Are you really so stupid you cannot see the difference between an 18 year-old member of the military and an untrained and undisciplined 18 year-old? Really?
Johnny’s Got a Gun
June 23, 2022 at 1:45 pm
Okay stay home mom. Get your broom and come over to sweep my floor. Also bring some sponges so you can soak up the tears you will be shedding due to having to actually do some work. I know you never served or even cared about those who did so when you make comments think. Again, you can clean my garage, closet, and mow my lawn. That’s probably too much because it might make the Botox in your face shift, and disfigure the nails you had put on. Sweetheart, it only gets better when you’ve lost your freedom and you are told what to do, and when you can do it. Oh I’m glad Scott is out of Florida don’t get me wrong but you personally know nothing about weaponry or what it means to be defenseless when you are without one. Remember this if you get anything out of it all, “It’s better to have a gun and not need it, than it is to need it and not have one.” Case closed. Oh and when you are done doing the housework etc. do you want cash or coupons. Have a better day sweetheart.
meredith shaw
June 23, 2022 at 1:50 pm
In defense of homemakers and women in general, this Lt Col (ret) thinks you need to move out of you mommy’s basement and get some serious therapy.
Johnny’s Got a Gun
June 23, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Rank doesn’t impress me but it must impress you or you would not have tried to pull it on me. I served with the best at least 6 retired 4 star generals so……. Sweetheart, you probably never got your shine scuffed on your booties wherever you were. My mom is dead. We all die at God’s will. No matter what is said here as we type, it all means nothing. Have a better day and when Zulu Hour strikes, be ready. I’ll still drag you to safety, or carry you on my shoulder to safety but would you do the same? Soldier to soldier…….Drive On! Out Here
Johnny’s Got a Gun
June 23, 2022 at 2:31 pm
Wow pull rank on me? Hilarious. Just goes to show your hierarchy of values. You study Maslow? You should. I served with 6 whom retired as 4 Star Generals. Sweetheart when you served you probably never got the shine on your booties scuffed. That’s okay if you truly served. Thanks but I don’t need therapy or a therapy animal. What I need is my country back. The real America. Not a country concerned about pleasing the oppressed. It’s about Duty, Honor, Country. America, not the problems in other countries. Worry about our own. As to your comment about my dear mom, she’s dead and has been for almost 40 years. But I don’t hit below the belt by making kiddie talk. I say it straight up. Weapons of war are what? Don’t say AR because that’s for Armalite Rifles. Carbines are a similar breed but utilized by thousands of law abiding citizens who love America and it’s people. Disturbed people do bad things and we have all lived to see this however, proper parenting and the loss of God’s teaching has been set aside for the teaching of non traditional values and beliefs as in homosexual rights, drag queen dances and total bigotry with the blm riots similar to the ones I lived through in the 60’s in Compton. You see it never changes unless we all get back on track and if not, then God will set us all straight. Do me one favor, when you have your face to face with God when your time comes, don’t try to impress him with your little rank comment or you will face the wrath. Be kind sweetheart and unruffle your feathers because this is just the beginning of the storm. Always be ready for Zulu Hour. Whether it’s Rick Scott or the other knucklehead Joe what’s his name, time will be different always. Like Bob Dylan sang, “Times They are a Changin”. Peace out, chill and live peacefully.
john
June 25, 2022 at 11:33 am
Given the tone and content of your messages, it is clear you did not serve in any of our military branches or you were dishonorable discharged. You are displaying stolen valor.
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