Florida Dem catches Republicans planning to discuss weakening background checks day after school shooting

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Juan Cuba called out state Republican lawmakers on Thursday for a plan to discuss loosening background check laws just a day after 17 people were killed in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

In a message posted to Facebook hours after the shooting, Cuba accuses Republicans of being "cowards bought and paid for by the National Rifle Association."

"Because FL Republicans are cowards bought and paid for by the National Rifle Association, they snuck in a gun provision inside of the Agriculture bill making its way through Tallahassee," Cuba writes. "SB740 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee TOMORROW Thursday Feb. 15 at 1 PM."

Cuba noted that bill is intended to deal with "oyster harvesting, revising standards of water vending machines, and more."

"However, conveniently tucked in pages 88-90 of this 98 page bill is language that would require the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to grant a Concealed Weapons Permit applicant their permit within 90 days, even if a full background check has not been completed," he revealed. "No one should be granted a concealed weapons permit unless a full background check has been completed. That's just common sense."

Cuba concluded by calling on voters to contact their representatives "and ask that they remove this language from the bill."

At the time of publication, the bill had not been taken off the schedule to be discussed at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

(h/t: Grant Stern)