TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Leadership in the Florida Legislature is unsure if lawmakers need to act following Friday’s mass shooting.
A Saudi national shot and killed three sailors at Naval Air Station Pensacola in what is now believed to be an act of terrorism.
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The shooter, 2nd Lt. Mohammed Alshamrani, was training at the Florida base and had a social media account detailing a deep-hatred of the U.S.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Sunday night the federal government should close what he called “loopholes” allowing the foreigner to buy a handgun in Florida and carry out the act. DeSantis also questioned whether better vetting was needed before a foreigner could train in America.
“You have foreign military personnel coming to our base," DeSantis said. "They should not be doing that if they hate our country.”
Meanwhile, leaders in the Florida Senate felt it was too soon for lawmakers on the state level to take action. Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Passidomo said Monday she'd wait for more details on the shooting before suggesting any kind of change.
“Until we find out more about it," said the Republican. "We really can’t delve into what the policy should be.”
Lawmakers have been reviewing the state’s gun policy for months, at the request of the Senate President. Democrats, the minority party in both chambers, have proposed a slew of major reforms, including an assault weapons ban. Those policies have yet to attract major bipartisan support.
Florida's next legislative session begins in January.
