Poor Florida Gov. Rick Scott. After a string of horrific mass shootings in his state, in response to which he has done nothing, his continued efforts to protect the interests of the NRA over American citizens now threatens to harm his political ambitions. How very sad for him.
Scott has consistently opposed longer waiting periods for gun purchases, but even fellow Republicans were shocked to learn that accused mass murderer Nikolas Cruz, 19, legally bought a semi-automatic assault rifle and extended magazines over the counter — even though he’s not old enough to buy a beer. [...]
Former Gov. Jeb Bush tweeted that 18-year-olds should not be able to buy semi-automatic weapons, but Scott has been silent on that question.
Suddenly, the NRA’s A-plus rating looks like an albatross, a potential drag on Scott’s expected run for the U.S. Senate.
Scott's A+ NRA rating comes from an extraordinary string of actions to weaken Florida gun laws, including new restrictions barring Florida doctors from even asking their patients about their guns. He was out mewing the appropriate concerns after the Pulse nightclub mass shooting, but in the face of widespread student fury after Parkland he's in hiding. He refused the CNN invitation to appear at a Wednesday town hall, thus dodging what was likely to be an unfriendly crowd, but he has poked his head up to demand new FBI Director Christopher Wray, a thorn in the side of Donald Trump, resign for not stopping the mass shooting in Rick Scott's own jurisdiction.
What a profile in courage. But while this mini-garbage fire attempts to inoculate himself against years of efforts to undo even the most basic and publicly uncontroversial gun restrictions, the rest of us can donate to Senate candidates who might show a bit more spine on the issue: Namely, Senate candidates who are not named Rick Scott.
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