Florida Congressman Byron Donalds (R) says he will not cave to the gun control agenda after the Nashville school shooting and warned against letting “emotion” erode the Second Amendment. CNN reporter Manu Raju confronted Donalds on Tuesday, who asked the congressman whether America should ban the AR-15. Donalds stood his ground and argued that the Second Amendment was absolute.
“The Second Amendment here in the United States. People are allowed to possess firearms,” the Florida Republican said.
“Need is in the eye of the beholder. I don’t question why you need a blue suit, but you got one. And I know we’re talking about something very, very different. But the second amendment allows American citizens to possess firearms.”
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Manu Raju, CNN’s Chief Congressional Reporter, pushed back against Donalds and asked, “but why not limit the AR 15?”
“If you’re going to talk about the AR 15, You’re talking politics now,” Donalds said, frustrated with Raju’s line of questioning.
“Let’s not get into emotion because emotion feels good. But emotion doesn’t solve problems.”
Byron Donalds does not support an AR-15 ban in wake of Nashville shooting:
"Emotion doesn't solve problems." pic.twitter.com/GXzlDOCp14
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 28, 2023
Donalds has served in the U.S. House since 2021 and is an outspoken defender of the Second Amendment. He has criticized gun control opportunists in the past–Democrats seeking to exploit tragedy to push legislation curtailing gun rights. The “issues” page of his House website says, “[m]y viewpoint on the 2nd Amendment is simple: Shall Not Be Infringed, means Shall Not Be Infringed!”
After mentally ill mass murderer Audrey Hale took the lives of six people on Monday–including three children–Democrats have mobilized to push new gun control measures. President Joe Biden has renewed calls for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, while lawmakers including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) have demanded the AR-15 be outlawed.
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Republicans had noted that Hale, 28, was receiving care from doctors relating to a mental disorder when she attacked The Covenant School in Nashville. Hale, a biological woman, had recently assumed a male identity, calling herself “Aiden” online and assuming male pronouns. Republicans have pointed to the growing mental health crisis in the United States as the most pressing issue Americans must confront.
“Why not talk about the real issue facing this country in regards to this shooting, which would be mental health,” Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) told Raju shortly after the reporter’s encounter with Donalds. The site of Monday’s tragic shooting falls within Ogles’ Tennessee district.
The heroic actions of Officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo saved countless lives at Covenant School.
They immediately ran towards danger and into the direction of gunfire.
Their bravery and courage exhibit the very best of our nation. Thank you both for your service. https://t.co/8bmVq5oiNm
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) March 28, 2023
Hale’s rampage lasted for fourteen minutes before police arrived at the scene to stop the bloodshed. The officers have received praise for charging toward the gunfire and taking down the shooter. Rep. Donalds posted to Twitter shortly after their body camera footage was released to say,
“The heroic actions of Officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo saved countless lives at Covenant School. They immediately ran towards danger and into the direction of gunfire. Their bravery and courage exhibit the very best of our nation. Thank you both for your service.”
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