Florida gets ‘F’ on gun control in Giffords group scorecard

Florida is among 25 states to receive an “F” grade on an annual scorecard released Wednesday by a gun-control group founded by a former congresswoman.

The scorecard, released by the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, places California at the top of the list. The state received the only “A” grade of the 50 states for its strong gun laws and relatively low gun death rate.

At the bottom of the list is Alaska, which the center cites for some of the country’s least restrictive gun laws and its highest gun death rate.

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Florida emerged as a key battleground in the gun debate after a gunman opened fire on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, near Fort Lauderdale, on Feb. 14, killing 17 people and injuring 14 others.

According to the Giffords’ score card, Florida is among the 25 states with the weakest gun laws and highest gun death rates.

The shooting in Parkland this month sparked an intense national debate over gun laws.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) and Republican lawmakers in the state have appeared to shift toward strengthening gun laws in recent days, voicing support for raising the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 18 to 21.

At the same time, President Trump appeared on Wednesday to embrace a comprehensive plan to reform the nation’s gun laws, urging lawmakers to tackle legislation that would strengthen background checks and make it more difficult for people with mental illnesses to purchase firearms.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) has also called for a ban on assault weapons, writing in an op-ed in The New York Times that the Second Amendment of the Constitution does not permit people to purchase military-style firearms.