Rep. Ted Deutch said Wednesday that some action will be done after the shooting in Florida, explaining that this time “feels different.”
“This time, I have to tell you, this time it feels different. Not just because it’s personal for me but because of what these kids are projecting around the world,” Mr. Deutch, Florida Democrat, said on MSNBC.
The survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting last week sparked a nationwide movement on gun legislation. Students traveled to the statehouse in Florida Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to take up the issue of gun control, but the motion to proceed on debate was voted down.
The U.S. Congress also has several bipartisan gun bills that members are pushing to have brought up, however, Mr. Deutch was skeptical about whether his Republican colleagues would support any of them.
“Do they feel moved? Are they compelled to take act? — these other members of Congress — I don’t know if they are, yet,” Mr. Deutch said.
But he said Republicans in Florida will see reaction if they fail to support some form of reform on gun legislation.
“When 97 percent of people in America say that we should have universal background checks. It is political malpractice not to support that position,” he said.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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