Gun Control reforms most Americans want
Bottom Line: This moment, in the wake of mass shootings in Gilroy California, El Paso Texas and Dayton Ohio, reminds me of the mood of Florida in the days after the shooting at Stoneman Douglas. There was a widely held view that we needed reform – not politics as usual. As it turned out, that’s exactly what we got. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Safety Act brought Florida comprehensive reform on mental health, gun control and school security. Within three weeks meetings were held with victims' families, experts and concerned citizens. Once completed reforms were decisively passed in Florida. During the process I brought you research about what Floridians were supportive of passing prior to the shooting at Stoneman Douglas. Remember, we were not far removed from the shooting in Las Vegas. Each of the reforms that most Floridians were interested in passing happened to some degree in the Stoneman Douglas Safety Act. With that in mind, earlier this year Reuters conducted nationwide research on gun control reforms. Like Florida, most Americans would like to see happen – independent of a specific catalyst like this past weekend’s shootings.
- 69% think we should strengthen existing gun laws
Here are the desired reforms in order of support...
- 87% should ban the mentally ill from purchasing/owning a firearm
- 84% expanded background checks
- 80% national database
- 72% armed guards at schools
- 70% ban high capacity ammo clips
- 69% ban “assault weapons”
- 64% ban online ammo sales
That’s a lot of reform with widespread support. And again, this was sampled earlier this year, without a specific shooting providing an emotional catalyst. Much of what's being advocated is law in Florida as a result of the Stoneman Douglas Safety Act. We’ve seen President Trump ban bump stocks through executive action. That’s the only reform that’s taken place in recent years. It’s clear that most people want additional reform. That will require an act of Congress and the President. Will this time be different? Seems to me our federal government could take a page out of Florida’s playbook. It just so happens that our governor at the time of the reform, Rick Scott, is a senator who might be able to provide leadership on this issue if there’s the will for reform in Congress that there is across the country.