Pro-gun challenger takes on congressman

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, who endorsed a range of gun-control measures in the aftermath of the Stoneman Douglas school massacre, is getting a Republican primary challenger who pledges to “defend the Second Amendment” and serve as an “unwavering partner” to President Donald Trump.

Mark Freeman, of Stuart, said Wednesday he respects Mast but wants to deny him a second term in Congress.

“As a successful businessman and professional, I have the background and the skills. My values stem from my Christian faith. And not being an ‘establishment candidate’ will ensure that I always maintain the proper perspective,” Freeman said in a written statement.

“I respect Brian Mast. I have met him and sincerely appreciate his military sacrifice. However, as much as we all admire his military career, his political career and record is an entirely different matter. We absolutely need a representative with true conservative values, a representative who speaks, represents and legislates without regard for personal political ambition,” Freeman said.

In 2016, Mast won a sixcandidate Republican primary in the 18th Congressional District in northern Palm Beach County, Martin and St. Lucie counties. As a candidate, he held a coveted “A” grade and received financial support for his campaign from the National Rifle Association.

After the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland — where Mast used to live — he broke dramatically from the playbook used by the NRA and Republican politicians whenever there’s a mass shooting.

Mast called for sweeping restrictions on guns, including a ban of assault weapons, including the AR-15, used in the Stoneman Douglas massacre and many other mass shootings; background checks for anyone buying a firearm; a higher minimum age for buying various categories of guns; and banning of accessories like bump stocks that make firearms perform like automatic weapons.

Conservative voters and activists were outraged and Republican Party leaders were left anxious over the prospect of a more challenging re-election for the freshman congressman.

Enter Freeman, a physician and retired lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve.

Mast is a former Army sergeant who lost both legs and a finger when a bomb exploded under him in Afghanistan, and has experience with similar weapons.

Besides incumbency, Mast has a significant financial head start. He raised $777,000 in the first quarter of 2018 and had more than $1.5 million in cash in his campaign account. A primary victory could prove costly to Mast, because the campaign would burn some of the money he’d otherwise be able to save for the November general election.

Two Democrats, Lauren Baer and Pam Keith, are seeking their party’s nomination in the 18th District.