Florida State Legislator: Partisanship on Gun Control Won't Cut it
Students across Florida -- and the nation -- held walkouts in solidarity with Parkland, Fla., Wednesday. The protests come one day after Florida House Republicans blocked a move by Democrats to debate a ban on assault weapons in the state.
State Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Coral Springs) explains the response inside Florida's Capitol to the student protests for more gun control.
"We have not talked about meaningful gun control in 20 years in the state of Florida," says Moskowitz. "It is the students who are the ones getting the attention and making something happen."
It's been one week since the mass shooting inside a Parkland high school left 17 dead.
"These kids are still sad, these kids are still grieving. But they are also determined," says Moskowitz, whose district includes the Parkland community. "They want to see something done."
Until a court ruling in 2017, Florida had a law on the books preventing doctors from discussing gun safety with patients.
"Florida is, unfortunately, the Petri dish for the NRA," says Moskowitz. "I am angrier than angry. I've been going to funeral after funeral, and I'm sad, and I'm distraught."
There has been a series of violent attacks in Afghanistan in the past week as U.S. troops withdrawal deadline approaches. The evacuation effort is winding down with 1,200 people evacuated in the last 24 hours, compared to last week's 24-hour span high of 21,000, and it is reported that there are around 250 people still waiting to be airlifted.
Dan Lamothe, national security reporter at The Washington Post, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more on what is going to happen when all evacuation and withdrawal missions are completed.
Futures pointed to a slightly higher open on the heels of Fed Chair Jerome Powell saying the central bank is on track to taper its asset purchases later this year. Milton Ezrati, Chief Economist at Vested joined Wake Up with Cheddar to discuss.
