Florida Governor Rick Scott was in Tampa Wednesday to push his $500 million "school safety plan" post-Parkland.
Aspects of the likely U.S. Senate candidate's plans include:
- $450 million to put armed law enforcement officers in schools.
- More funding for metal detectors and bulletproof glass at schools.
- A ban on "bump stocks" and raising the age at which one can purchase a firearm from 18 to 21.
- One Department of Children and Families social worker per county charged with rooting out potential mass shooters.
- Mandatory active shooter drills at all schools, because this is how we live now.
Notice anything missing from that list?
Many students from Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of the worst school shooting since Columbine, probably do.
Namely, a proposed ban on guns capable of mowing down dozens in a matter of minutes, like the one the shooter at their school had.
Not that the students would be too surprised.
Kids from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High (and other schools!) have been vocally critical about Republican leadership's loyalty to the gun lobby. In fact, their speaking out is probably the only reason we're still talking about this one two weeks later.
Scott, meanwhile, maneuvers a confusing political landscape in his (likely) quest to become the next U.S. Senator from Florida. It's one that will require a superhuman primary-to-general pivot on guns, given the general public's support of stronger gun laws, if this recent poll is any indication.
Here are seven times a young survivor of the shooting called Scott out on his unwillingness to consider an assault-style weapons ban.
1) As he returned to school for the first time since the shooting Wednesday (the same morning Scott touted his "school safety" plan), David Hogg told a reporter he was "terrified, angry and mad at elected officials like Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Donald Trump."
2) Student Jaclyn Corrin took to Twitter Wednesday to slam Scott for his focus on school safety rather than dangerous weapons themselves:
“This isn’t just a SCHOOL safety issue. This is a PUBLIC safety issue. Mass shootings happen in nightclubs, churches, airports, etc. The only commonality between every shooting is the INSTRUMENT.”
3) Hogg, on Twitter:
“I know that the the NRA owns you @marcorubio @realDonaldTrump @FLGovScott but I mean common why is it so hard for you guys to rip off the shock collar the NRA has on you because at this point y'all are like a bunch of really stupid sharks that [think] you have power.”
4) Student Cameron Kasky in a phone interview with MSNBC a few days after the shooting:
“It is my astute belief that the blood of those 17 people is on Rick Scott’s hands.”
5) Parkland student Chris Grady, talking to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) during last week's CNN town hall on gun safety post-Parkland:
“I would just like to thank you again for coming out and listening to us because that’s a lot more than can be said for our so-called president and governor.”
6) Kasky on CNN explaining some rather inflammatory remarks about Scott and Rubio having "blood on their hands":
“It’s Rick Scott and Marco Rubio who allowed this to happen. They are enablers.”
7) And, finally, Kasky again, this time on Twitter:
“@marcorubio came and took it like a champ and was respectful and kind. @FLGovScott don’t think you can avoid the issue. Don’t think you can avoid #NEVExRAGAIN and the #MarchForOurLives Hide behind your money but know that we are demanding answers and change NOW. We’ll get both.”
Will these kids let up in time for voter amnesia to kick in, thus giving Scott a better chance against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson?
Not if their passionate pleas (and occasional trolling) thus far are any indication.
