WASHINGTON, D.C - Florida senators announced a proposed gun violence restraining order bill Wednesday afternoon. Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson worked together on the legislation meant to prevent deadly shootings like the one in Parkland almost three weeks ago.
"No matter where you land on the gun debate, everyone believes we shouldn't have mass shootings and keep our students safe in schools," Rubio said.
Similar gun violence restraining order bills - also called red flag bills - already exist in five states.
Florida is about to pass their own red flag bill, and Nelson and Rubio want it in place nationwide.
Their proposal empowers law enforcement officials and family members to use the court system to stop someone who could be violent from obtaining a gun.
"This is a step in the right direction," Nelson said. "Given the environment around here and the sway of the NRA, there are certain things that aren't going to be passed."
Both senators wanted something broad in order for the proposal to have a better chance of being passed.
"You can offer the best idea in the world, but if you don't get it passed, then everyone gets frustrated nothing ever happens," Rubio said.
Gun store owners in Lee County said the best way to stop gun violence is to enforce laws already on the books.
"There's plenty of laws out there," Travis Brunson said.
Brunson owns Guns on 41 in Fort Myers.
"There's got to be a better way to enforce them," he said. "We need a better way to improve the background check system so guys aren't falling through the cracks."
