(CNN)In March 2018, then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a piece of legislation that, among other things, raised the age at which individuals could legally buy firearms in the state to 21.
"If you look at the federal government, nothing seems to have happened there," Scott said in signing the measure, which was prompted by the murder of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, just weeks prior. "You go elect people, you expect them to represent you, get things done."
Prior to the new law, it was illegal in Florida for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase a handgun. Following the law's passage, it became illegal for an individual in Florida to buy any firearm -- including long guns like the AR-15 -- if they were younger than 21.
Scott's statement is worth remembering now, as the country seeks to respond to the murder of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Scott is now a US Senator representing Florida after defeating Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2018. On Monday, he had an exchange with CNN's Manu Raju over whether or not the federal government should do what he did in Florida: Raise the age to buy long guns to 21.
Here's the back and forth:
Raju: What about raising the age at the federal level? I mean, to 21.
Scott: I think that all this stuff ought to be done at the state level. Raju: What's wrong with doing it federally?
Scott: Because you can change the laws easier at the state level.
Which is, well, interesting? Because back in 2018, Scott lambasted the federal government for its inaction on guns. And now he is saying that he opposes raising the minimum age to buy long guns to 21 because that sort of stuff is better left at the state level because "you can change the laws easier at the state level."
"If you look at the federal government, nothing seems to have happened there," Scott said in signing the measure, which was prompted by the murder of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, just weeks prior. "You go elect people, you expect them to represent you, get things done."
Prior to the new law, it was illegal in Florida for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase a handgun. Following the law's passage, it became illegal for an individual in Florida to buy any firearm -- including long guns like the AR-15 -- if they were younger than 21.
Scott's statement is worth remembering now, as the country seeks to respond to the murder of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Scott is now a US Senator representing Florida after defeating Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2018. On Monday, he had an exchange with CNN's Manu Raju over whether or not the federal government should do what he did in Florida: Raise the age to buy long guns to 21.
Here's the back and forth:
Raju: What about raising the age at the federal level? I mean, to 21.
Scott: I think that all this stuff ought to be done at the state level. Raju: What's wrong with doing it federally?
Scott: Because you can change the laws easier at the state level.
Which is, well, interesting? Because back in 2018, Scott lambasted the federal government for its inaction on guns. And now he is saying that he opposes raising the minimum age to buy long guns to 21 because that sort of stuff is better left at the state level because "you can change the laws easier at the state level."
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/07/polit...eral-gun-laws/
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