Sen. Bill Nelson tells statehouse Democrats: push for change in gun laws and then push for more

With young Floridians demanding action on gun restrictions, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson stepped into the fray Thursday to encourage Democratic state legislators to get whatever reform they can in the final days of the 2018 session. He also urged them to renew the fight to ban assault rifles when they return to Tallahassee in December.

Nelson joined the Senate Democratic caucus for breakfast, after appearing on a CNN town hall with Sen. Marco Rubio Wednesday night. He praised Florida’s junior senator for standing before members of a “grieving community” to explain his stance on guns. Rubio said he would work with Nelson on more stringent background checks and broke with state Republicans in opposing arming teachers. However, Rubio refused to back Nelson’s plan to ban assault weapons.

“You are not going to solve the problem until you get the assault rifles off the street and until you can get a criminal background check on every transfer of a gun,” Nelson told a group of lawmakers.

Nelson would prohibit the sale or transfer of 205 types of semi-automatic rifles. He also would initiate a buy-back program for those now in private hands. It is a much more restrictive package than the one Republican leaders in the state House and Senate are putting together.

The 15 Senate Democrats say they support an assault weapon bans. They intend to file amendments that would ban semi-automatic weapons, ban bump stock, establish a firearms registry and require trigger locks, among other things on bills that begin to move over the next 10 days.

“There’s a commitment to do something. To get something done,” said Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, when asked if he thought the student protest will prod lawmakers to act.

The Republican plan in the works is less restrictive than what Parkland shooting survivors said they wanted. A proposal is expected to emerge in a committee Monday or Tuesday that would raise the age to 21 to buy semi-automatic weapons and to expand background checks and police authority to use the Baker Act.

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The gun debate will come while lawmakers finish assembling an $87 billion budget. The fight about guns will be layered over an annual House and Senate budget battle. That combination has lawmakers beginning to talk about the possibility of a special session.

“Multi-tasking up here is not something we are good at," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs. “We can’t pass most bills in eight weeks let alone try to change a 20-year conversation on guns in three weeks.”

But, at the moment, everything is just talk, according to Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens. The Senate Democratic leader has seen nothing in writing but has heard a lot of words. Braynon met with Gov. Rick Scott to talk about guns. He rolled his eyes when asked how Scott reacted to his suggestions.

“I don’t think he actually knew who I was or what role I play,” said Braynon. “His nonverbal communication felt like he didn’t hear me. It was like he was checking a box. ‘I met with Senate leadership.’”

Nelson counseled Democrats in the Senate and House to keep the pressure on.

However, McGhee has been shut out of House negotiations on a gun package to respond to demonstrators demands. He said he will call for a special session if the House fails to pass one.

“To simply rush a package out within less than two weeks for an issue that has plagued our state for 20 years is borderline criminal,” said McGhee, the incoming Democratic House Leader. “If the package does not speak to a moratorium or a ban . . . (then) I am all for a Special Session to discuss this matter. Anything short of that is a start but is not answering the call and cries of these kids and their parents.”

Tuesday McGhee moved for the House to pull from a committee and debate an assault weapons ban. The motion failed on a party-line vote and Rep. Randy Fine, R-Brevard, went on CNN and called McGhee’s motion a stunt.

Braynon took the criticism personally. His eyes grew wide and he gestured with his hands as he recounted five years of gun safety bills going unheard.

“He says stunt; I say some people are putting on a show,” said Braynon. “They tell the kids, ‘We’re thinking about doing something. We’ll see what we’re going to do.’ They are putting on a show. Their hearts are not in when it comes time to push the red or green button. We’ll stop pulling stunts when they stop putting on a show.”

A suggestion that Democrats appear to be trying to seize a tragic moment to implement gun control further animated Braynon, who represents a section of Broward County.

“I’ve been around a hail of gunfire more times than I can tell you,” said Braynon. “I’m trying to negotiate with people from gated communities and see their point of view, but they need to see mine. In my community, people get shot all the time. I wish it didn’t have to be as bloody – what those children had to see.”

Lawmakers are waiting for a Gov. Scott proposal to emerge sometime Friday. Scott convened three workshops on gun safety this week. He has told reporters and students everything is on the table for consideration.

Reporter James Call can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com.