On Fox, Ron DeSantis Opposes New Gun Law, Backs NRA Lawsuit

DeSantis, Putnam, and the NRA Stand Together Against Gun Control

Just hours after Florida’s new gun law was signed last night, Ron DeSantis appeared on Fox News to criticize the legislation as an unconstitutional violation of the Second Amendment. In an interview, DeSantis said the new gun safety provisions won’t “prevent any gun crimes,” reiterated his support for arming teachers, and predicted that the NRA’s lawsuit against the law is “probably going to succeed.”

WATCH

Here’s a partial transcript:

“I think when you start getting into some of the blanket restrictions on people’s Second Amendment rights, I think that that is constitutionally vulnerable. I think those lawsuits are probably going to succeed. I mean think about it you have an enumerated right in the Bill of Rights, there’s really no precedent to just do a blanket ban on certain adults.”

“Ron DeSantis is more interested in repeating false NRA talking points and arming teachers than doing anything to address gun violence,” said FDP spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. “Since the Parkland Massacre, Ron DeSantis has opposed any ​gun safety legislation — and earned himself the despicable title of being one of the gun lobby’s most faithful servants.”

DeSantis’ comments are just the most recent reminder of how closely DeSantis and his fellow gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam have aligned themselves with the NRA since Parkland. Both candidates are so extreme on guns that they don’t just oppose gun control — they actually repeat the gun lobby’s talking points against gun safety. DeSantis has gone further than his​ fellow Republicans​ by suggesting the legislation is “unconstitutional” — while the NRA has echoed Putnam’s talking points on protecting the rights of young gun owners:

RHETORIC: VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS:

MARION HAMMER: “We filed a lawsuit against the state for violating the constitutional rights of 18 to 21 year olds.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 3/9/18]

RON DESANTIS: “I’m disappointed that the Florida Legislature is rushing to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens. When dealing with a right that is specifically enumerated in the Constitution, blanket restrictions that diminish individual rights are suspect.” [Tampa Bay Times, 3/1/2018]

RON DESANTIS: “I think when you start getting into some of the blanket restrictions on people’s second amendment rights, I think that that is conditionally vulnerable. I think those lawsuits are probably going to succeed. I mean think about it you have enumerated right in the Bill of Rights when there’s really no precedent to just do a blanket ban on certain adults.” [Fox News, 3/9/18]

RHETORIC: PUNISHING GUN-OWNERS:

CHRIS COX, NRA INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION: “This bill punishes law-abiding gun owners for the criminal acts of a deranged individual.Securing our schools and protecting the constitutional rights of Americans are not mutually exclusive.” [CNN, 3/9/18]

NRA COMPLAINT: “This blanket ban violates the fundamental rights of thousands of responsible, law-abiding Florida citizens and is thus invalid under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. […] The effect of Florida’s age-based ban is to impose a significant, unequal and impermissible burden on the right to keep and bear arms of a class of millions of law-abiding 18-to-21 year-old adult citizens.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 3/9/18]

ADAM PUTNAM: “As someone who grew up in possession of firearms, learning a respect for firearms and practicing the safe use of firearms as part of my heritage, I can’t support any policy or any law that destroys the family tradition of possessing and practicing safe use of firearms. I can’t imagine that a state that has done so much to encourage youth hunter safety would outlaw the purchase of any and all firearms by someone under 21.” [Tampa Bay Times, 2/28/18]