FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Republican Congressmen in Southwest Florida and all over the country are voicing concern over the tool a man used to assist in murdering 59 people in Las Vegas this week.
Bump stocks are accessible to the public through some gun shops and online retailers. Since the Las Vegas attacks, both Democrat and Republican law makers are taking action to make the modification harder to get, or ban it all together.
Democratic Florida Senator Bill Nelson sponsored a bill with California Democrat Dianne Feinstein to ban bump stocks. At the same time, Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo plans to introduce legislation to ban the attachment.
Thursday morning, Congressman Vern Buchanan, who represents the district just north of Southwest Florida, including manatee county, tweeted about his support for limits on bump stocks:
"Bump stocks generating automatic rates of fire should face the same restrictions as automatic weapons," he tweeted.
Republican Congressman Tom Rooney, who represents parts of Charlotte County, sent the following statement:
"I would support legislation banning bump stock sales. These allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at a rate comparable to fully automatic weapons, which have been illegal since 1986."
Meanwhile, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, also a Republican, who represents parts of Collier County, states he believes the sale of bump stocks should at least be investigated.
"I believe it's time Congress seriously consider the legality of bump stocks," he said in a statement.
4 In Your Corner has not heard back from Republican Francis Rooney, who represents Fort Myers to Marco Island. However, during an interview with 4 In Your Corner Wednesday, he said stricter gun laws would not save us from potential mass shooters.
Senator Marco Rubio has not yet answered 4 In Your Corner's media request on the subject, but he has stated publicly that he would consider supporting legislation that limits sale of or bans bump stocks.
