An influential state senator and chairman of Florida’s Republican Party says he is a “solid no” on expanding gun background checks as Donald Trump Jr. and other conservatives heap scorn on the state’s Senate leader for embracing the idea.
State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, doubts the measure has the votes it needs to pass, despite getting support from Republican Senate President Bill Galvano.
“I am a solid no,” Gruters said. “We’ll see what happens, but in its present form, I would expect it will have a very hard time moving through the process.”
His comments come as conservatives and gun-rights supporters are on the defensive in Florida and other states where guns are being debated.
Galvano, R-Bradenton, has thrown his support behind a bill that seeks to close the so-called gun show loophole.
That provoked a barrage of criticism from NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer, Trump Jr., Parkland parent Andrew Pollack, U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz and other members of Galvano’s own party. Critics blasted Galvano for a $500,000 donation the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety made to his political committee after the Parkland shooting. Everytown was founded and is largely financed by Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg.
“Any supposed Republican who proudly accepts money from Mini Mike Bloomberg and is supportive of his gun control agenda is nothing more than a stone cold RINO (Republican in name only),” Trump Jr. told The Daily Wire. “The last thing Florida Republicans need is a liberal, gun-grabbing Bloomberg minion leading them in the state Senate.
Galvano said Wednesday he knew the gun bill would be “difficult” given how polarizing the issue is.
“We have had objections or concerns raised on both sides of the issue,” he said. “I have a lot of faith … in the process, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
In Virginia, thousands of people, some openly carrying guns, demonstrated this week against proposals to implement universal background checks, limit handgun purchases to one per month and allow cities to ban guns in some public places.
Gun control supporters in Florida are set to host their annual advocacy day Thursday at the Capitol. Unlike Virginia, Florida’s statehouse is firmly controlled by Republicans, and any gun-related legislation will face a steep climb.
“Imposing background check requirements on a private individual, you are just violating the Second Amendment,” said Sen. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah. “I am for improving background checks wherever we can, but the imposition on a private citizen having to complete background checks imposed by the government — now you are putting an onus on them that was not intended.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Speaker José R. Oliva have expressed similar concerns.
Gun control advocates, though, say voters overwhelmingly support expanded background checks, and nothing in the bill would ban any type of firearms. A Florida Atlantic University poll conducted shortly after the Feb. 14, 2018, Parkland school shooting found 87% of Florida voters supported universal background checks.
Federally licensed firearms dealers already are required to run background checks.
The bill (SB 7028) would require background checks for gun sales conducted in public, such as those at a gun show. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and seven other counties already have that requirement on the books. People who sell a firearm privately wouldn’t have to run a background check, but they would have to keep a notarized record of the sale, including a signed affidavit that the purchaser meets the requirements to own a gun. Failure to make the record would be a misdemeanor offense.
The bill does not ban any type of gun. Fred Guttenberg, a gun control advocate whose daughter was killed in the Parkland shooting, said Galvano should be “honored” and “commended” for having the courage to take on the powerful gun lobby.
“He is trying to do one simple thing — be a part of making sure more Floridians don’t die of gun violence,” Guttenberg said. “There is not a single thing he has gotten behind that is an affront to the Second Amendment. … They are using amped-up rhetoric to tell a lie.”
Hammer, the NRA’s chief Florida lobbyist, wrote in an email she isn’t letting her guard down.
“It has been my experience that you never assume any bill is dead until it is withdrawn or session is over,” she wrote.
Skyler Swisher can be reached at sswisher@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6634 or @SkylerSwisher.
