While several survivors of the Stoneman Douglas school shooting looked on from the gallery, Florida state House lawmakers on Tuesday shot down a bill which would ban assault rifles and large-capacity magazines.
House Rep. Kionne McGhee of Miami put forth HB 219 - which would prohibit AR-15 rifles and other "assault weapons" and extended magazines - and requested it be moved to the House floor for questions, debating, and a vote.
However, that was not to happen as the Republican-controlled House voted it down 36-71.
"It was just so heartbreaking to see how many [voters'] names were up there, especially after it was my school," said a tearful 16-year-old Sheryl Acquaroli, a student at Stoneman Douglas, on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360˚." "It seemed almost heartless how they immediately pushed the button to say no."
"They had a chance to stop it today," she added. "If there is another mass shooting [in Florida] it's going to be their fault."
Bill sponsor Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith tore into the decision in a tweet later that day. "17 pp in Parkland were just murdered w/an AR-15, + the FL House just passed @RossSpano's HR 157 declaring PORN as a public health risk. No, GUN VIOLENCE is a public health crisis + Spano blocked HB 219 banning assault weapons in his committee for 2 yrs."
Source: washingtonexaminer.com
