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Former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell Joins Florida Mothers To Call Out Marco Rubio For Putting His Gun Lobby Donors Over Stopping Gun Violence
In the wake of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Marco Rubio has been too weak to stand up to the gun lobby and take action. Instead, he’s doubling down on opposition to popular gun safety measures that could save Floridians’ lives.
Former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell joined Stacey Wesch, the parent of a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, and Mary Ann Ruiz, a Miami mother and Cuban-American, to call out Marco Rubio’s record of failing to act after yet another mass shooting.
See below for highlights from the press conference and watch a full recording here:
“After the horrific shootings of the Sandy Hook Elementary and Pulse Nightclub, Senator Rubio chose outrage over any sort of political courage. He has voted repeatedly against crucial legislation that would save the lives of our children. We’ve seen time and time again how Marco Rubio has stood on the side of the NRA and the gun lobby and not on the side of parents and kids that have been pleading with him to do something…We need the federal government and the Senate to act. The House of Representatives passed the universal background check bill. There are other bills that are sitting in the Senate…If these leaders don’t show political courage, then we in Florida, Floridians, will make sure that we elect those that will,” said Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
“Our children should not have to live this way. We’re failing them, we have to do better, we need to vote people into office who will support our gun laws…Back in 2018, Marco Rubio had told us that he would support meaningful gun laws concerning safety. But four years later, he actually stated…these people will commit these crimes whether they have to use another weapon to do it or not…We need to elect people who will do better for us,” said Stacey Wesch.
“Yesterday, we heard from Marco Rubio that basically he believes that nothing can be done. And I have a real problem with that…This is not the first time that he has said that common sense legislation like background checks won’t stop mass shootings. And he says so just after a tragedy. It’s just, for me, a complete lack of empathy and humanity for what parents are dealing with today…Even yesterday at the Miami Heat game, there was a moment of silence. And it turns out that even Marco Rubio has a problem with the Miami Heat taking a moment of silence for everyone to honor the 19 murdered children and their murdered teachers. He has a problem with that. I have a problem with Marco Rubio at this point,” said Mary Ann Ruiz.
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