While President Trump has been in the news lately for potentially backtracking on calls for gun control, Florida Congressman Brian Mast (R) is doubling down. This comes after Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R) has been trying to explain his position on calls for ‘Red Flag’ law calls.
Mast, not new to the gun control game, first turned the tide from his previous strong second amendment stance after the Parkland shootings in 2018.
From Sun-Sentinal.com:
Mast, who represents northern Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties, used to live in Parkland about five minutes from the school — and broke with the NRA and a majority of his Republican colleagues by calling for gun restrictions in the aftermath of February 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre.
Nine days after the massacre, in which 17 people were killed and 17 injured, Mast announced his support for a ban on the sales of assault weapons, including the AR-15, used by the Parkland shooter and in many other mass shootings. He said future purchases of “assault or tactical” firearms should be banned.
After Mast’s 2018 comments he drew a lot of heat, and even a primary challenger at one point, touting himself as more pro-gun than the current congressman. Mast was silent for a good period of time after that, and many of his peers and constituents had probably hoped the pushback would cause him to retake the pro-gun stance that he had when he used to tout his great standing with the NRA.
Well unfortunately for the gun enthusiasts, this was not the case. Mast is back full force sounding more and more like a Democrat every time he speaks on the issue.
According to the Sun Sentinal, he was recently at a Palm Beach County Republican Fundraiser where he made the statements about his most recent thoughts.
SEE TWEET FROM @browardpolitics BELOW:
Congressman @BrianMastFL and Palm Beach County Republican Chairman Michael Barnett at GOP #Lobsterfest in Boca Raton. pic.twitter.com/zneEgGlPVV
— Anthony Man (@browardpolitics) August 15, 2019
From PalmBeachPost.com:
[Mast] said Thursday evening he is “more optimistic” about prospects for approval of an assault weapons ban and background checks legislation in Congress.
Mast cited statements by other Republican congressional colleagues and tweets by President Trump in support of the measures as evidence the climate on Capitol Hill has become more receptive in the wake of deadly shootings in El Paso, Texas, Dayton, Ohio and the wounding of six police officers this week in Philadelphia.
“You are plainly seeing it. It’s clear,” he said during a reception ahead of the Palm Beach County GOP’s annual Lobsterfest dinner at the Polo Club in Boca Raton. “I am more optimistic now.”
Brian Mast interviewed with former NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch when running for Congress in a video that can be seen below where he talks about what he plans to do to help veterans. He said if elected his biggest issue would be government accountability. No mention of gun control though, and it was probably assumed by Loesch that she didn’t even need to ask. Unfortunately, she should have.
SEE VIDEO BELOW:
As many are silent and President Trump may be dialing it back, some like Crenshaw and Mast may get left holding the bag; and catching the heat, while others move on. The coming weeks and months will shine more light on how this will unfold.