GOP lawmaker calls for assault rifle ban

[octoberlib]

A House Republican from Florida is backing an assault weapon ban following last week's shooting at a high school in his state that left 17 dead.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who faces a competitive reelection race this fall, wrote in an op-ed Friday that the Second Amendment guarantee to the right to bear arms, but should not apply to all guns.

"The Second Amendment is unimpeachable," Mast wrote in The New York Times. "It guarantees the right of citizens to defend themselves. I accept, however, that it does not guarantee that every civilian can bear any and all arms."Mast, a retired staff sergeant in the Army, recalled his deployment in Afghanistan and the weapon he carried during that time, an M4 Carbine.

"My rifle was very similar to the AR-15-style semiautomatic weapon used to kill students, teachers and a coach I knew at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where I once lived," wrote Mast, who holds a seat that is "leaning Republican" according to the Cook Political Report.

"I cannot support the primary weapon I used to defend our people being used to kill children I swore to defend," he added.


http://thehill.com/homenews/house/375312-gop-rep-the-2nd-amendment-does-not-guarantee-that-every-civilian-can-bear-any?__twitter_impression=true

[lapfog_1]

1. Unless a *lot* of Dems cross over and vote republican in his primary

I doubt he will be the candidate come the fall.

So this is likely a pickup for us.

[octoberlib]

4. Good! The only reason he's saying this is because he got a look at his poll numbers

[Faux pas]

2. Kickin'

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Both sides of his mouth got a workout on that one..