Gubernatorial candidate Fried: ‘To allow assault weapons to be bought and sold by civilians is insane’

After the passage of a ban on semi-automatic firearms Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, in her role as a 2022 gubernatorial candidate, said in statement that, “To allow assault weapons to be bought and sold by civilians is insane.”

In the brief statement, Fried also commended Democratic colleagues in the U.S. House “for doing what’s right for our families, our neighbors, and our kids.”

The ban in the U.S. House comes after a spate of recent mass shootings and killings in Uvalde, Texas, Buffalo, New York, and Highland Park, Illinois. In 2018, 17 students and staff were killed by a gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County’s Parkland.

Fried said Friday that, “Banning assault weapons at the federal level is common sense, and it has worked before. If it doesn’t get done federally, as governor, I will move to ban assault weapons in Florida.” She also tweeted that last comment Friday evening, about “if it doesn’t get done federally…”

Fried is an attorney, elected statewide Cabinet member and a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the August primary facing off against U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a Democrat.  Crist is a former Republican governor, Attorney General and Education Commissioner. He said he plans to ban assault rifles entirely if he becomes governor.

Fried did not make the same declaration. But she has restated that she will be “keeping assault rifles off of our streets.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis, is campaigning for reelection this year and is considered a potential presidential pick for 2024.

He wants to sign a so-called “constitutional carry” bill before leaving his position as governor. Constitutional carry refers to allowing people to wield guns without a concealed carry permit.