Sunrise, FL – Republican Sen. Marco Rubio was put on the defensive by angry students, teachers and parents who are demanding stronger gun-control measures at a town hall after the shooting rampage that claimed 17 lives at a Florida high school.
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But Rubio, the lone Republican at CNN’s “Stand Up” town hall Wednesday night, did say he would support laws barring those 18 and under from buying guns, support changing the background checks system and getting rid of bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic guns to mimic fully automatic fire.
One of those confronting the Florida senator was Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed on Feb. 14 with 16 others. Rubio was the only Republican at the nationally broadcast gathering after Florida’s GOP Gov. Rick Scott and President Donald Trump declined invitations to appear at the event in Sunrise, Florida.
Guttenberg told Rubio his comments about the shooting “and those of your president this week have been pathetically weak.”
People stood up and cheered Guttenberg as he challenged Rubio to tell him the truth, to acknowledge that “guns were the factor in the hunting of our kids.”
Guttenberg added, “And tell me you will work with us to do something about guns.”
Rubio responded that the problems laid bare by the shooting rampage “cannot be solved by gun laws alone,” drawing jeering whistles from the crowd. He said that if he believed an assault weapons ban “would have prevented this from happening, I would have supported it.” That drew jeers. Visibly angry, Guttenberg responded: “That is a weapon of war.”
Sen. Bill Nelson and Congressman Ted Deutch, both Democrats from Florida, also were present on a dais.
Nelson said he grew up on a ranch and hunted all his life.
“I still hunt with my son but an AK-47 and an AR-15 is not for hunting, it’s for killing,” said Nelson to applause.
Ryan Schachter, whose brother Alex, was fatally gunned down at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, was among those questioning the lawmakers.
“I’m supposed to go back to school in the upcoming week,” said Schachter. “Me and my friends worry we are going to be murdered in our classrooms.”
Student Cameron Kasky did not mince words telling Rubio, “It’s hard to look at you and not look down the barrel of an AR-15 and not look at Nikolas Cruz” before asking squarely, “Can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA?” The room erupted in cheers as Rubio replied that people buy into his agenda and that he supports laws to keep guns out of the hands of deranged people.
Rubio said he does not support arming teachers and Nelson agreed saying Trump’s suggestion on arming them was “a terrible idea.”
Shortly before the town hall event opened, the sheriff of the Florida county torn apart by the rampage spoke to the cheering audience, drawing them to their feet as he exhorted them to press on for stricter gun controls.
Sheriff Scott Israel of Broward County declared the U.S. has had enough of deadly shootings and that he was personally saddened to have to go through the crime scene of a “horrific killer” 30 minutes after the attack last week. He said the young people should hold lawmakers accountable for making their schools and other community places safer or they won’t be re-elected.
“Never again!” he declared of the Parkland attack, exhorting the young people to press on: “America’s watching you … there will be change.”
I watched this clown show last night. If law enforcement and the FBI would have done their job this wouldn’t of happened. Not sure what the NRA has to do with this.
The parents and students were very rude and disrespectful to Sen. Marco Rubio, as they booed him, and engaged in catcalls.
#2 What did little Mark Rubio do to earn their respect?
Taking money form the NRA to keep guns on the streets does not earn respect from those who lost loved ones to guns.
The Fuhrer himself sanctioned disrespect of Rubio, and many others, by his dismissive deragotory remarks during the campaign and afterwards by alleging that Rubios dad was involved in the assasnation of Kennedy, and questioning the size of Rubio’s manhood. The students in Florida are good learners and are taking their cue from the menuval in chief. The chickens come home to roost.
to #1 . If you are not sure what the NRA has to do with this, I sugest you take a basic course in logic. It’s quite obvious that all your years of learning gemoro, did not teach you the basic rules of cause and effect.
The liberal agenda is that no more kids should die in a mass shooting no matter how it is prevented.
The republican and NRA agenda is let everyone in the USA have as many powerful assault rifles that they want and we will send thoughts and prayers after mass shootings.
Again I ask the same question, how will bans prevent murders? Why will it differ from drugs? If its banned and someone wants to murder someone he will just buy it on the black market. I am all for a gun ban if it helps. But how will it really help?
Great point Educated Archy. I too ask how will outlawing homicide prevent murder? Do laws against tax evasion stop people from cheating on their taxes? Drug laws do not prevent people using drugs. Hakol Muteren loch, Hakol mechulen loch. Social approbation does not prevent people from sleeping with porn stars after their wives bear the chief serial adulterer a child. Disband the government and all the laws , except the Republican ones, since banning abortion always results in a zero abortion rate (NOT)
I think Rubio had his heart in the right place, but he shouldn’t have agreed to subject himself to this liberal dem-staged farce with the disrespectful teens! Yes these kids have suffered a terrible loss and trauma but that doesn’t t give them the right to be disrespectful (which was absolutely shameful, and Jake Tapper was complicit, save for one bland ‘“let’s be respectful’). Their questions, clearly prepared for them in advance by some liberal talking heads, were not meant to open sensible debate and look for sensible solutions; they were focused SOLELY on attacking the NRA and Trump-bashing! Gun control and changes to those legislations is only a part of the solution yet these kids were encouraged to focus solely on that one aspect. When Rubio raised the issue of raising the age from 18 to 21 for buying, the issue of AR weapons and other solutions, not one of them applauded; they couldn’t care less about any other measures and that makes me have to be suspicious if their true motives; they’ve unfortunately been used as Pawns by the left to further their agenda and for further Trump-bashing instead of using the deaths of their friends and teachers to work together peaceful’y with others to find REAL solutions. The fact that CNN hosted this event and chose the participants and the speakers, tells you that it was meant to be what every other show of theirs us: Trump hating liberal FAKE NEWS.
Such disgusting displays of chutzpa and arrogance by these “victims” aka Democrat Party Usless Idots.
They weren’t interested in discussion, they were interested in war and the problem is they’re now protected because they’re victims.
Horrible!
# 22
In addition to not teaching you the basic rules of logic, it seems you did not take part in your cheder’s debate team. Google ‘ad hominem’.
I did not like when the parent said to Rubio ,what will your president do. .Like it or not,he is the President of everyone in the USA,even if people do not like him.