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U.S. NEWS Saturday 10 March 2018

Florida governor signs gun restrictions 3 weeks after attack

By CURT ANDERSON lived through the attack
Associated Press and swiftly became the
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) public faces of a renewed
— Florida Gov. Rick Scott gun-control movement.
signed a far-reaching Just days after the shoot-
school-safety bill Friday that ing, they began holding
places new restrictions on rallies, lobbying lawmakers
guns, cementing his state's and harnessing the power
break with the National of social media in support
Rifle Association and de- of reform.
cades of Republican think- The governor told the stu-
ing on gun control in the dents: “You helped change
aftermath of the Parkland our state. You made a dif-
high school attack. ference. You should be
Surrounded by family mem- proud.”
bers of the 17 people killed Scott said he is still “not
in the shooting just over persuaded” about the
three weeks ago, the GOP guardian program that will
governor said the bill bal- let districts authorize staff
ances "our individual rights members to carry hand-
with need for public safety." guns if they complete law
"It's an example to the en- enforcement training. It is
tire country that govern- not mandatory.
ment can and has moved “If counties don’t want to
fast," said Scott, whose do this, they can simply say
state has been ruled for 20 no,” he said.
years by gun-friendly Re- Florida Gov. Rick Scott talks to the media in his office after signing the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Andrew Pollack, whose
publican lawmakers. Public Safety Act at the Florida Capital in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, March 9, 2018. daughter Meadow died,
Tony Montalto, whose (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser) called the new law “a start
daughter Gina was killed in for us.”
the shooting, read a state- abiding gun owners for the If we want to prevent fu- abiding Americans," Chris He added: “Let’s get the
ment from victims' families: criminal acts of a deranged ture atrocities, we must W. Cox, executive direc- rest of the country to follow
"When it comes to prevent- individual." look for solutions that keep tor of the NRA's Institute for our lead and let’s make
ing future acts of horrific The Parkland gunman guns out of the hands of Legislative Action, said in a schools safe. Let’s hard-
school violence, this is the "gave repeated warning those who are a danger to statement. en the schools and make
beginning of the journey. signs that were ignored by themselves or others, while The signing marked a major sure this never happens
We have paid a terrible federal and state officials. protecting the rights of law- victory for the teens who again.”q
price for this progress."
The bill fell short of achiev- Watchdog group:
ing the ban on assault-style
vivors. The gunman who DOJ should investigate porn actress payment
weapons sought by sur-

opened fire at Marjory
Stoneman Douglas High By TAMI ABDOLLAH gues that Trump attorney was to ensure she didn't reference to Cohen or Es-
School used such a weap- WASHINGTON (AP) — A Michael Cohen's $130,000 share details of an extra- sential Consultants LLC,
on, an AR-15 rifle. nonprofit watchdog group payment may have been marital affair with Trump. and that if the allegations
Nevertheless, the bill raises has asked the Justice De- a loan to Trump and, if so, Clifford sought to invali- are true, it should have.
the minimum age to buy partment and the Office needed to be disclosed. date their agreement in Public officials are required
rifles from 18 to 21, extends of Government Ethics to in- And CREW noted that spe- order to "set the record under the Ethics in Govern-
a three-day waiting period vestigate whether a secret cial counsel Robert Mueller straight." She alleged in ment Act of 1978 to report
for handgun purchases payment to an adult film may also want to investi- the filing that Trump "at all all liabilities beyond $10,000
to include long guns and actress made prior to the gate because of "a similar times has been fully aware during the preceding cal-
bans bump stocks, which 2016 presidential election pattern of potential black- of the negotiations ... the endar year. If "Mr. Trump
allow guns to mimic fully may have violated federal mail" in personal matters in- existence and terms of the intentionally omitted this
automatic fire. It also cre- law because Donald Trump volving Trump. Hush Agreement, the pay- material information from
ates a so-called guardian did not list it on his financial Stormy Daniels, whose real ment of $130,000, (and) his financial disclosures as
program enabling some disclosure forms. Citizens name is Stephanie Clifford, the use of (Essential Consul- part of a larger scheme to
teachers and other school for Responsibility and Ethics claimed in a lawsuit filed tants LLC) as a conduit." hide his relationship with
employees to carry guns. in Washington lodged the this week that the $130,000 CREW argues that Trump's Ms. Daniels, that would be
The NRA insisted that the civil and criminal complaint payment made as part of 2016 financial disclosure no small thing," said Norm
measure "punishes law- on Thursday. The group ar- a nondisclosure agreement form did not include any Eisen, chairman of CREW.q