Florida Republicans losing their nerve to do right thing.

Florida Scuttles Legislation That Could Actually Stop School Shootings

Rod Thomson

Emotions and empty platitudes have long been the field on which the anti-Second Amendment gun control crowd plays. And with wicked murders last week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., emotions are sky high — and that is usually bad for sound policy.

The emotions have brought out the predictable platitudes from the left-wing, including the insufferable John Kasich, about “common sense” gun legislation and “time to put aside our differences” and “standing up to the NRA.” Every one of those simply means: Do we what we say.

But now, the anti-gun agitators have taken the profound grief of young people and are using it as another tool for their agenda. The Parkland teens did not organize their protests on their own around the state and nation and their rally in Tallahassee as legislators were meeting. In fact, we now know that the same organizations behind the Women’s March are the ones organizing and funding these marches.

There is nothing grass roots there, just exploitative deep pockets from the left. Sheriff David Clarke sees on Twitter the destabilizing hand of George Soros in them, which would fit with the Women’s March.

And the media is broadcasting the times and dates of the marches like they are public service announcements, without an ounce of scrutiny.

 

All of this political fallout from the evil murders at the high school came during the Florida Legislature’s annual nine-week session.

And so, bowing to the emotions, platitudes and timing, some of the most fearless defenders of gun rights and reasoned thinking on the issue have pulled the only legislation that might actually have an impact on saving lives.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican, has withdrawn legislation his committee was set to vote on that would have lifted the gun-free zones on schools and allowed school districts, with local discretion, to designate a concealed weapons permit holder to carry a gun on campus. Steube has worked tirelessly to allow similar gun laws on Florida colleges and in schools in previous years to help young people defend themselves from wicked rampagers. Generally, those did not make it out of committee.

This year was different with Steube chairing the committee and having apparent support for this legislation.

But the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican, said the timing was now wrong for holding a debate over what critics label an expansion of gun rights in Florida.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported:

“I don’t think we’re ready for that discussion right now,” Baxley said. “I’m trying to solve a problem. Having a school as a gun-free zone, while well intentioned, makes it a sterile target. That would change if there was armed resistance.”

Baxley has another bill set to go Wednesday before the full Senate that would allow people to carry their concealed weapons to church, even if there was a school on the grounds. He said Monday that was still scheduled for debate.

“But whether it is brought up, is going to be up to leadership,” Baxley said.

And thus died the most reasonable, Constitutional steps that government could take to limit these shootings, once again demonstrating the axiom that liberals end up damaging the most, the very people they claim to want to help.

Rod Thomson is an author, TV talking head and former journalist, and is Founder of The Revolutionary Act. Rod is co-host of Right Talk America With Julio and Rod on the Salem Radio Network.