FRANKLIN, Tennessee – The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), told The Tennessee Star at the Williamson County GOP’s monthly mix and mingle event on Friday that he thinks the Senate bipartisan deal that includes red flag law incentives won’t go through if the focus is gun control.
In response to a question asked by The Star if he thought the deal would come to pass, Scott said, “I think if they focus on school safety, there’s an opportunity. If they focus on gun control, there won’t be a deal.”
Democrat U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) a known proponent of gun control, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced a framework of a deal on June 12 that included incentives for red flag laws.
The red flag law section of the announcement read, “Provides resources to states and tribes to create and administer laws that help ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals whom a court has determined to be a significant danger to themselves or others, consistent with state and federal due process and constitutional protections.”
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said a couple of days later, “I’m comfortable with the framework, and if the legislation ends up reflecting what the framework indicates, I’ll be supportive.”
The Star previously reported Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs explained the problem with red flag laws.
“I think the most important thing to remember is we already have laws on the books to give the government the ability to get weapons out of the hands of people who suffer from mental health issues, but the key thing is those existing laws give them due process,” Jacobs explained, referencing the fact that Baker laws already exist in all 50 states.
“Red flag laws go against all Anglo-American jurisprudence. They deprive people of their rights without due process,” he added.
U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) recently blasted red flag laws, saying in part, “A federal red flag law would create millions of second-class citizens. It won’t stop mass shooters but will deprive millions of Americans of due process and their Second Amendment rights.”
Scott’s statement to The Star may signal that Republicans in the U.S. Senate may not be as willing to sign on to the compromise legislation as first thought.
ABC News reported on Thursday that the talks over the legislation appear to have stalled. One of the provisions that is holding things up is said to be the red flag law incentives that would be given to the states that enact such legislation.
The Star additionally spoke with Scott about why he feels the Republicans are going to take control of the U.S. Senate and key issues that will decide the 2022 midterm elections.
“Number one is candidates. We have great candidates. Their candidates are far left Bernie Sanders disciples,” said Scott. “Joe Biden’s numbers are crumbling. This is an election about the incompetence of Joe Biden and the Democrats.”
“I think the issues are going to be: gas prices, food prices, baby formula shortage, energy independence, Democrats pushing Critical Race Theory, Democrats pushing defunding the police – so I think those are going to be the big issues,” explained Senator Scott.
Senator Scott also talked about the races he thinks that the Republicans will in November, including the ones that most people will consider to be surprise victories for the GOP.
“I think we’re going to win in Georgia, New Hampshire, Arizona, Nevada… The ones I think you’ll be surprised – we’re going to win in Washington with Tiffany Smiley. I think we’re going to win in Colorado. I think we’re going to win in Connecticut,” he said.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, Truth Social, and Parler.
Photo “Rick Scott” by Williamson County Republican Party.
