WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement ahead of the Vice President’s visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Senator Rick Scott said, “After the horrific shooting that took 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day in 2018, I immediately brought together mental health, education and law enforcement experts to get valuable feedback on how to prevent future violence in our schools. I also worked closely with the families that lost their children and loved ones that day to make sure their voices were heard. On February 23, I proposed landmark legislation to the Florida Legislature, which I then signed into law as Governor of Florida on March 9th, less than one month after the shooting. The work of the Parkland parents was instrumental in drafting and passing this bill—work done as they grieved the unimaginable loss of their children. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act improved school safety in Florida and has helped law enforcement make appropriate interventions with people who pose a threat of violence to themselves or others while robustly protecting due process rights that stop unlawful infringement on the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Floridians. This stands in stark contrast to the Biden-Harris administration’s push for nationwide implementation of radical policies, like California’s red flag law, which abandons due process to more quickly and easily take constitutional rights away from law-abiding Americans. That is unacceptable.

“While I wish that the tragedy never happened, I am proud of the quick, bipartisan work we did to implement strong school safety policy and better protect our kids at school. There is no place for partisan politics here, which is why I have been so frustrated by Democrat Leadership in the Senate blocking consideration and passage of the bipartisan EAGLES Act, to expand the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center with a greater focus on school violence prevention, as well as my School Guardian Act which would replicate Florida’s policy and place a trained law enforcement officer in every U.S. school. I will continue to work with Parkland families and those who wish to build on Florida’s good work to improve school safety across the nation. I urge the Vice President to join me in calling for the immediate passage of the EAGLES Act and School Guardian Act.”

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