Herrera Beutler Addresses Florida School Shooting in Latest Telephone Town Hall

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Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler addressed the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last night in her latest telephone town hall event. 

This was her first time commenting on one of the most deadly school shootings in United States history in the week since it happened. Seventeen people, among them students and school staff, died in the shooting, which has reignited the already heated debate over gun control amongst lawmakers and citizens alike.   

First, Herrera Beutler started the evening by listing off a number of now-familiar items of concern to Southwest Washington and her plan for action. Those topics included tolling at the Washington-Oregon border, threats to salmon, the Bonneville Power Administration and the opioid abuse epidemic. The Battle Ground resident also spent roughly four minutes praising the recently passed GOP tax bill, saying that she has seen more than just one-time bonuses handed down, but rather increased wages and benefits, as well. 

Her proposed solutions for school shootings were prompted by the first caller question of the night. 

John, from Battle Ground, asked if in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, shooting Herrera Beutler would “elaborate” on the National Rifle Association giving her an A rating (the NRA rates lawmakers on a scale of A to F). 

Herrera Beutler said she strongly supports the constitutional rights of all law abiding citizens, including the Second Amendment, and that is why the NRA has given her such a high rating. 

“If we’re talking about legislation, or regulation, that protect those rights, I’m in favor,” she said. 

Herrera Beutler then offered her solutions, saying lawmakers need to do a better job of keeping guns away from people who shouldn’t have access, but that they should act in a way that doesn’t damage the rights of hunters and Americans using firearms for protection. 

Much like President Donald Trump responded to shootings during his campaign and now into his presidency, Herrera Beutler pointed to the Florida shooter’s mental health issues and said this is continued proof that there needs to be better access to public mental health resources and that more funding needs to go toward it. 

Herrera Beutler also talked of more thorough background checks and not allowing guns into the hands of those on the terror watch list, or if a judge felt they were a threat.  



She said there are laws currently in place that if more adequately enforced and funded could have headed off some of the shootings in recent years. 

Harry, from Hockinson, expressed concern that post-shooting pushes for more gun control by liberal lawmakers would lead to the Second Amendment being stripped down. He implored his congressional representative to not be “caught up in the fever of it.” 

“There isn’t a person, I don’t care what your political strife is, who didn’t hear about this most recent tragedy and whose heart didn’t break,” Herrera Beutler said of Parkland. “Quite frankly, I know mine did.” 

In regards to a sweeping ban of weapons often used in mass shootings, Herrera Beutler shared a belief common amongst gun advocates.

“Taking the rights away from a law abiding citizen does not stop a criminal from breaking the law,” she said. 

Herrera Beutler again expressed her desire to expand mental health programs and to help law enforcement stop criminals from purchasing guns.

She noted that in regards to mental health, an individual would first need to be found through the court system to be a danger to themselves or others before their right to keep and bear arms was stripped from them. 

“You can’t pick and choose what constitutional amendments you’re going to stand by,” she said. “When I took this job, I swore an oath to defend the constitution and I intend to continue to do just that.”