Graham calls for new gun-safety measures

Florida gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham proposed new gun-safety measures in the wake of Monday’s mass shooting outside Orlando and the approaching year anniversary of the Pulse shootings.

“A year after the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history — after the murder of 49 young people — Governor Rick Scott and the Legislature haven’t done a thing to curb gun violence in our state,” said former U.S. Rep. Graham, of Tallahassee, in a statement Thursday.

Graham called for comprehensive universal background checks on all gun sales “to stop criminals and terrorists from purchasing guns.”

She also proposed a ban on large-capacity magazines; a requirement that abusers surrender firearms when a protective order is issued against them; and giving law enforcement “the tools they need to prevent those with serious mental illness from purchasing or keeping firearms.”

Graham, who has said in her 2014 congressional campaign that she supported the Second Amendment, said Thursday, “I won’t let extremist groups from Washington like the NRA turn this into a Second Amendment vs. gun control debate. … I respect the rights of law-abiding gun owners. This is about common sense, constitutional solutions to save lives.”

Former NRA president Marion Hammer did not return requests for comment.

Graham’s opponents for the Democratic nomination cited their own gun-safety proposals.

The Pulse tragedy is “still very raw and recent — particularly for those of us who live in Central Florida,” Winter Park businessman Chris King said in a statement. “I agree with Congresswoman Graham’s suggestions and have shared many of these same ideas as I travel around Florida.”

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum pointed to his legal victories over the NRA, including its unsuccessful lawsuit against Tallahassee leaders over an ordinance that bans shooting guns in public parks.

“Floridians can look at my record and trust that when I’m governor, we’re going to enact more of these common-sense measures to keep us safe,” he said.