The prevalence of gun violence in the U.S., especially at its schools, has turned even some moderate legislators into staunch supporters of stricter gun control laws.
Democrat Darren Soto, a representative from Florida’s 9th district, was one of them.
“As a lawyer who got into the state legislature, I was always a strong advocate of our Constitutional rights,” the congressman told Cheddar on Thursday, the day after a gunman killed 17 students and teachers at a Parkland, Fla., high school.
“But when Sandy Hook happened, I really got the full sense of the horror and the tragedy of these mass shootings. That was when I was in the Florida House. And from then, I really took a turn to fight for many different gun reforms.”
Soto’s comments come as Nikolas Cruz was charged with 17 counts of murder for the Parkland shooting. The nineteen-year-old was reportedly part of a white supremacist group and had previously posted videos and social media messages showing him with a variety of guns and claiming he wanted to be a “professional school shooter.”
President Trump addressed the shooting Thursday morning, calling for steps to address mental illness, but did not mention anything about gun control.
That may not have come as a surprise to Soto, who spoke with Cheddar before the President made his statement. He said Republicans have blocked hearings on a number of measures sponsored by Democrats, from closing the gun show loophole to preventing those on the no-fly list from buying weapons to a ban on so-called bump stocks.
And one of those bills might have prevented Wednesday's events.
"How did this young man get guns as a troubled youth?" he asked. "I suspect it could have been this gun show loophole. It could have been a personal exchange. Therefore there is no background check and no ability to police folks who normally wouldn't get firearms getting them through this glaring loophole."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rep-darren-soto-d-fl-calls-for-action-after-another-unspeakable-tragedy).
The American women are having a rough Olympics in the figure skating rink. All three American competitors fell in the women's individual short program. It's a sharp turn from the years when American women landed on the podium year after year. Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill explains why things have been more difficult for the Americans this time around.
On Between Bells: Talking to kids about gun violence, Dallas Mavericks under fire, restaurant servers fight tip-pooling laws, and more. With Eater, Parents Magazine, and Popular Science.
If someone told you that asthma would help you win gold at the Olympics, would you believe them? Well according to a new study, athletes with asthma are more likely to win at the Winter Games than those without these breathing problems. Popular Science's Claire Maldarelli explains why.
A new report from S.I. details allegations of sexual harassment against the team's former President and CEO, Terdema Ussery.
Amazon launches health products line, Chipotle adds quinoa to the menu, and Tinder reveals the most-swiped athletes in the Olympic Village.
The athlete, who took home the Olympics' top prize at the 1976 Games, says entering the sport is much more expensive these days, and the physical moves are more demanding.
Austin Dillon, who won the Daytona 500 race over the weekend, says this win will add to his grandfather's legacy.
This Sunday the Daytona 500 Race went into an exciting overtime when 27-year-old Austin Dillon finally pulled into first place during the final lap. The Daytona 500 winner joins Cheddar to explain the emotions that came with the big win.
We're a week into the Olympics and by now most viewers have noticed that Ralph Lauren, Nike and Under Armour are the official sponsors of Team USA gear. Joining The Long and The Short to discuss the benefits of outfitting Team USA is Nick Martell and Jack Kramer, Co-Founders & Co-CEOs of MarketSnacks.
Dwyane Wade made headlines for his recent trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers back to the Miami Heat, but the NBA star is also busy with a film that hits close to home. Alyssa Julya Smith caught up with the basketball player at a screening of his new film "Shot in the Dark," which he acted as executive producer alongside fellow Chicago-born star Chance the Rapper.
