opinion

GOP Rep. Brian Mast pushing for 60-day 'pause' on sales of AR-15

Things don't get done in Washington, D.C., unless there's a deadline.

Recognizing that reality, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast — a Republican combat veteran and longtime NRA member — is working to impose his own deadline on Congress.

Mast told me he will file a bill next week calling for a 60-day, nationwide "pause" on sales of tactical rifles, including the AR-15 used in the school shooting in Parkland, where he previously lived.

Almost a month after the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Congress has failed to act.

“Nobody has faith in weeding out the next person who wants to do this. Nothing has changed,” Mast told me Wednesday, the day before the Florida Legislature sent a gun and school safety bill to Gov. Rick Scott's desk.

The state bill raises the age limit for buying long guns to 21, but does little else to limit sales of firearms such as the AR-15.

Mast has called on President Donald Trump to use his executive powers to impose an immediate, temporary ban on sales of AR-15-style guns — similar to the travel ban Trump imposed last year — but the president has not signaled interest. So Mast will advance legislation in an attempt to get the job done.

He hopes a temporary ban will spur Congress to act on a well-defined, lasting solution.

If you say, “Hey we’re going to pause the sales of these gas-operated, semi-automatic rifles for 60 days, you can believe there’s going to be a fire under the people here," Mast said.

In the long run, he supports a permanent ban on future sales of "tactical rifles," something he called for in a Feb. 23 op-ed in the New York Times, drawing national attention because it was in opposition to the NRA (which previously gave Mast an "A" rating). Mast wants to carefully define which firearms would be included in such a ban.

The ban on future sales of tactical weapons similar to the AR-15 also is a position supported by the Editorial Board of TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers.

“I've gotten plenty of push-back from many people, as can be expected,” Mast told our editorial board during a Mar. 1 meeting.

Yet he also has received messages of support, including from Republicans.

One of them is U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Okeechobee, also a military veteran from Florida.

After Mast's op-ed appeared in the New York Times, Rooney texted him to tell him he thought it showed great courage.

I spoke to Rooney Monday, and he told me he would consider co-sponsoring legislation from Mast. That said, Rooney announced last month he doesn't intend to run for reelection — which means he won't have the clout needed to advance a bill in the months ahead.

The kind of legislation Mast is proposing needs the backing of the president, Rooney told me.

“Only Trump can take on the NRA and win,” Rooney said.

After last month's televised White House discussion on gun reform, it's unclear where Trump stands.

But what if a compelling group in Congress got Trump's attention?

What if an alliance of military veterans and former law enforcement officers rose to stand beside Mast?

What if anyone who has ever worn a uniform and is now in Congress joined Mast in this push for reform?

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Rooney suggested such an alliance could be effective. But he knows, better than most, the political risk. Waging a battle against the NRA is especially dangerous in an election year — and Mast has two strong Democrats challenging him this year in Florida's 18th Congressional District. It's a purple district, and the seat was held previously by a Democrat.

“I don’t want him to get so far out there, and then the president leaves him at the altar,” Rooney said.

Mast said he's not worrying about political risks. His new, tougher position on guns was inspired by concerns about the safety of his own young children.

His intent to file a bill next week signals he's serious.

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Mast said he's encouraged by Trump's support for banning bump stocks, which were used in the Las Vegas shooting last year.

"He's saying there's a line — that 'keep and bear arms' doesn't mean every single arm. And that 'shall not be infringed' doesn't mean every person out there can pick up a firearm," Mast said.

He believes it's possible to enthusiastically support the Second Amendment while embracing reasonable limits.

“Whether we’re lifelong Democrats or lifelong Republicans or lifelong NRA members or never thought about the NRA in our life ... If we’re willing to say there’s a line, we’re not that far apart," Mast said.

"We’re much closer together than a lot of people think we are.”

Eve Samples is opinion and audience engagement editor for TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact her at 772-221-4217 or eve.samples@tcpalm.com. Follow her on Twitter @EveSamples.