Fla Dems To Again Call For Special Session On Gun Violence
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - Florida Democrats plan to press again for a special session to address gun violence, something that Republicans running the Legislature have openly questioned.
On Tuesday, in Orlando, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs, along wiht Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, will discuss their effort to force Secretary of State Ken Detzner to survey legislative members on a special session, according to a joint release from the lawmakers.
Florida Democrats have been pushing for the session since the June 12 mass shooting --- the worst in the nation's history --- at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
When asked about the possibility of garnering the necessary support from Republicans, Soto said that public pressure is growing to address gun violence and that "anything can happen."
Senate President Andy Gardiner has dismissed the call for a special session because no legislation dealing with the issue had been filed.
But Soto said Monday that Democrats now have a specific proposal. The intent of the session would be to address a proposed prohibition on gun sales to people on federal terror watch lists and to require law enforcement agencies to share information as part of existing background checks, according the Democrats ' press release . The press release also noted that Florida's secretary of state is required to survey the members of both chambers if at least 32 members want a special session.
The session would be called if three-fifths of the Republican-dominated House and Senate agree to convene. Prior to Tuesday's press conference, a group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America intend to hold a rally in support of the special session outside of the Orlando legislative offices of Gardiner and state Rep. Mike Miller, R-Winter Park.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
