House Majority Whip Steve Scalise said Tuesday that he and the survivors of the Florida high school shooting discussed their experiences as victims of gun violence more so than policy.
“We talked about policy, but really we talked about shared experiences, and obviously, it got very emotional. Some of the things that they’ve been through are similar to some of the things that I’ve been through,” Mr. Scalise, Louisiana Republican, said on CBS News.
“This is going to be a tough time for them — it already is — but this doesn’t go away,” he said.
Congress is back in session after a 10-day break and ready to address gun violence in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, shooting nearly two weeks ago that left 17 people dead. Mr. Scalise said that closing the loopholes in current laws is more of the priority rather than banning certain firearms or raising the required age to purchase a weapon.
“Right now, I think if you look, the laws are varied, and every state also has the ability to change their law,” he said of states that are pushing stricter gun laws. He added that topic is not one that’s a national discussion.
Mr. Scalise was a victim of gun violence last June when he was shot on a baseball field in Virginia while practicing for an annual congressional charity game with other lawmakers.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.