Florida Dem vows to introduce assault weapons ban in Congress next week

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) on Wednesday said he intends to introduce legislation next week to ban assault weapons. 

Ryan Schachter, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School whose brother was killed in last week’s shooting there, asked Deutch during a CNN town hall event what he would do to ensure he will be safe at school.

“We’re going to introduce legislation to make sure that assault weapons are illegal in every part of this country,” Deutch said, prompting applause from the audience. Deutch was referring to legislation from Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) that has dozens of Democratic cosponsors.

{mosads}He said he supports local law enforcement and school staff to provide as much security and comfort as needed to make sure students feel safe.

“But beyond that, the best way for us to show that is to take action in Washington, in Tallahassee, to get these weapons of war off of our streets,” Deutch said.

Rep. Ted Deutch: A lot of people have told this community that it’s too soon to talk about getting weapons of war out of our communities. “It is not too soon, it is too late for the 17 lives that were lost.” https://t.co/cIFakLEhbs #StudentsStandUp https://t.co/mXZlupfLAq

— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2018

Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., have spoken out in recent days after a gunman opened fire in their school on Feb. 14. The students have called on lawmakers to enact legislation that would curb gun violence and prevent school shootings.

Some have called for a ban on assault weapons after an AR-15 was used in last week’s shooting and several previous mass shootings.

Other lawmakers have proposed raising the minimum age requirement to purchase certain firearms. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) expressed support Wednesday for such a proposal.

The White House hosted a listening session earlier Wednesday to gather feedback from parents, students and family members with a connection to past school shootings, including survivors of the Florida shooting.