WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) on Face The Nation today called on the President, Congressional leaders and other Members of Congress to immediately implement a temporary ban—similar to the temporary travel ban issued last year—on purchases of AR-15 weapons to prevent more deaths until Congress can pass a long-term solution that addresses gun violence, school security, law enforcement failures and mental health. 

“For me personally, it pains me to know that I went out there willing to defend my country—willing to give everything—with almost the exact same weapon that is used to go out there, and unfortunately, kill children here in Parkland.  And I think there’s a very real opportunity here for response and for action,” Rep. Mast said on Face The Nation.  “What I love about my President is that he is a man of action.  And I can tell you that as veterans and soldiers, when we see a chance to save life: we don’t hesitate, we don’t have a conversation, we go out there and do it. I think that’s what the travel ban has been all about.  It’s been about saving lives in our community and in our country.  Let’s take that exact same model and apply it right now to this situation.  Let’s put a pause right now….It made sense in the case of terrorists coming into this country.  I think it should make sense in looking at guns.”   

Watch the full interview here.

Last week, Rep. Mast wrote an op-ed in the New York Times headlined “I’m Republican. I Appreciate Assault Weapons. And I Support A Ban.”  In the piece, Rep. Mast wrote, “I cannot support the primary weapon I used to defend our people being used to kill children I swore to defend….Therefore, I support the following: defining what constitutes an assault or tactical firearm and not allowing them for future purchase — just as we already prohibit the purchase of fully automatic firearms. The exact definition of assault weapon will need to be determined. But we should all be able to agree that the civilian version of the very deadly weapon that the Army issued to me should certainly qualify. I would not support any version of a ban that results in confiscating existing legally owned firearms.”  Read the full article here.

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