Sense laws with regard to guns in america. Thank you, senator. I just dont understand why so many students lives, so many teachers lives, all of this for it to change. Why does it have to take so many . By the first time, it should have been changed. But its gone so far. You lost a future olympic medalist, whose funeral i was supposed to be attending, but change is more important, because thats what they would have wanted. Why did it have to take so much blood to be spilt, so much money for you guys to gain from not answering the question, mr. Rubio . Why is this happening . Why arent we why hasnt this changed already . Why do we have to be the last school . Why wasnt it the first school the last school . And you can ask the same question, why two years ago when 49 lives were taken in the pulse nightclub and nothing was done. Not in washington, not in tallahassee, not one thing offered by the administration in tallahassee. And here we are, going through this again. And its gone to unfortunately very possibly continue unless we get some common sense laws on the book. Thank you, senator nelson. I want to bring chris grady back. Cameron introduced us all to him. Hes a senior and he recently enlisted in the army. And thank you for that, chris grady. And he has a question for senator rubio. I would just like to thank you again for coming out and listening to us, because thats a lot more than can be said for our socalled president and governor. I believe i speak for myself and my colleagues in the Neveragain Movement when i say, though we might not see eye to eye on a lot of these issues, we need you and your colleagues on both sides to come together with us and find compromise if we are to ever to solve this epidemic that is im sorry. This epidemic that is plaguing our country. Senator rubio, i believe a big issue, when it comes to the debate about semiautomatic weapons and automatic weapons is largecapacity magazines. Would you agree that there is no place in our society for largecapacity magazines capable of firing over from 15 to 30 rounds, and if not, more. First, let me thank you for our willingness to serve our country. Youre doing it tonight and youre going to do it in uniform and were very grateful to you. Thank you. And im glad you asked that question, because i traditionally have not supported looking at magazine clip size. And after this and some of the details ive learned about it, im reconsidering that position. And ill tell you why. Ill tell you why. Because while it may not prevent an attack, it may save lives in an attack. And ill let the authorities discuss at the appropriate time why i say that. But suffice it to say, i believe that there will be evidence that at a key moment in this incident three or four people, three or four people might be alive today because of something that this deranged killer did, had to do. And obviously, its not for me to make Law Enforcement announcements. I dont know what the right number is. I dont know what i know that there are, for example, handguns that have 17. So well have to get into that debate, but that is something i believe that we can reach a compromise in this country, and that im willing to reconsider. Because i do believe, and in that sentence, it wouldnt have prevented the attack, but it would have made it less lethal. And thats the kind of thing that i hope my colleagues and thats why i hope these discussions are important. Because they do lead you to rethink positions after youve taken new information and new input from people. By the way, american politics is the only part of our lives where changing your mind based on new information is a bad thing. We do it in every aspect of our lives. And we have to stop doing that, as well. So that is an issue ill look into, absolutely. Thank you, senator. Theres no question that the Republican Party is more allied with the nra than the democratic party, but it also is worth pointing out that the democrats controlled the house, the senate, and the white house in 2009 and 2010 and gun control was not a priority. Thats just a fact. Senator nelson, was that a mistake by your party . Uh, yes. When the senate had 60 votes, as we did, until ted kennedy died, thats how we got the Affordable Care act passed, and yes, Gun Legislation under those circumstances should have been considered, because there had been a lot of massacres up to that point. It was sandy hook that occurred later in the obama administration, that a lot of people thought would be the turning point, because of these little first, second, and third graders gunned down. And yet, nothing was done. And then you go through all the other shootings. And so, i can tell you that in the meantime, until we do get 60 votes again in the u. S. Senate, when we can guarantee that we would get the legislation through, im going to continue to work with my colleagues and specifically senator rubio to see whatever we can get. The hard reality is that there are not a majority of senators, primarily the ones that have been supported, financially, by the nra, theres not a majority of senators that are going to be willing to do a lot. Im glad what senator rubio has said here tonight. That he is willing to rethink his positions. And, so, im looking forward to doing everything that we can, and accomplish as much as we can, given the circumstances politically that were in. Thank you, senator nelson. And senator nelson said in the meantime. In the meantime doesnt mean in the next five years or seven years or ten years. It means in the next few weeks. On monday, when we return to washington, d. C. , were going to try to do this thing called unanimous consent where you dont really have a vote, its just unless any senator objects, it passes the law to pass the background check. I believe there are 60 votes to ban bump stocks. I believe we could have 60 votes at the federal level to change the age from 18 to 21 on the purchase of any rifles. I believe and i know youre a cosponsor of the Safe School Act. Prevent, you know, its the Safe School Act thats been filed by a member of congress from florida that is going to be filed on monday its going to be filed on monday by senator hatch of utah, that i believe we can also pass in the senate. So there are things that we can begin to do on issues that there is consensus on. My biggest fear remains that our Attention Span on this country on virtually every issue is seven to ten days and then we pivot you know, were one tweet away or one story away from focusing on something else. And we cannot continue on an issue of this important to make that, to allow that to happen. So i do think we can make progress. Congressman, next question is for you. I want to bring in annabel quinn clapper, shes a sophomore, she was in the building when the shooting occurred and she has a question for you. Hi. Hi. When it comes to the safety and security of our students in our schools, how come there arent equal methods of protection deployed to all schools, despite their social infrastructure, crime rates, and Median Income . I actually this is a pretty straightforward question. Every school, every school should have the security thats necessary to keep the students safe. Every school in every part of the community. So thats pretty straightforward. But theres a lot more that we have to do, and i just want to i want to talk about, as part of this, just for a second, the debate that weve heard, because ive got to tell you, it sounds and you can correct me if im wrong, but its starting to sound like what weve always heard before. And heres the thing. This isnt its not a 5k. Its a sprint right now, for the people in this community. The fact is, the fact is, banning bump stocks, something that converts a semiautomatic weapon into a killing machine, thats we dont need to think about that. We need to do it next week next week thank you. And putting and fixing the background checks, again, senator rubio, i appreciate the effort to pass legislation that the nra can live with, with that doesnt that fixes, that helps with the background check. But it doesnt require everyone to get one. Thats not complicated. Yes, maam . I just want to know, will my School Campus be safe when i return . Because i plan to not return until i know that something is going to change. And im not the only one. I can i can tell you i can tell you that the commitment from superintendent runcie and from sheriff israel and from Law Enforcement and from your teachers and from everyone who is focused on School Security is going to do everything you can to make sure that it is safe when you go back. Because the real issue is that youre you have to ask that question. [ inaudible question ] sorry . [ inaudible question ] well, then, if there were if there were issues that happened yesterday, then those issues need to get fixed before Marjory Stoneman douglas gets reopened. Thats absolutely right. Look, i cant i can tell you that we need to have the Community Come together. Everyone whos involved in security needs to be involved to make sure that your school is safe. And everyone who cares about the safety of the schools, who represents you either in tallahassee or in washington, also has to do everything they can to make sure that youre safe. And when Congress Goes back next week, we need to move forward, we need to take care of the bump stock ban. We need to have universal background checks. We have to have pass the bill that says, if youre too dangerous to fly, you shouldnt be able to buy a gun. All of those things should be done next week. And heres the last thing, heres the last thing. The discussion thats taking place here tonight is important. Its really important for everyone here to hear it. But the reason things are going to be different this time is because the people in this room and the people around the country who are inspired by the people in this room. And thats High School Students and College Students and adults in every part of the country, theyre not going to let this debate just go back. Theyre not going to simply go back and let us go to washington and have panels and discussions and hearings. I said it in the beginning. Jake, ive just got to say it again. The time for talking about how we fix things in washington when it comes to guns is over. Its over. We know what we have to do. This is not and i want to just finish with this. This is not a partisan issue. Ive spoken to so many republicans, so many in this room, who have said, look, at this point, there is one issue and one issue only that i am focused on. And that is making sure that we take action to keep our kids and our schools safe and to get dangerous weapons of war off of our streets. That has to be our priority and weve got to do it now. Thank you, congressman. I want to thank senator rubio, senator nelson, and congressman deutch. Your presence here tonight has made an tremendous impression on all of us. And as senator rubio said, minds have been opened for tonight. When we come back, a National Spokesman for the nra will be here and the Broward County sheriff will be here to answer the students questions face to face. Stay with us. Whats with him . Hes happy. Your familys finally eating vegetables thanks to our birds eye voila skillet meals. And they only take 15 minutes to make. Augh family giggling oh my. Birds eye voila so veggie good. [background noise] a little to the left. 1, 2, 3, push easy easy easy horn honking alright alright weve all got places to go weve all got places to go Washington Crossing the delaware turnpike . Surprising. Whats not surprising . How much money sean saved by switching to geico. Big man with a horn. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. Welcome back to cnns town hall with the students and families and faculty to have Stoneman Douglas high school. In the days following the shooting, many students expressed their frustration about one group, the nra. Dana loesch is the National Spokesperson for the nra. She is here with us along with Broward County sheriff, scott israel. Were going to be asking them questions in this segment. Sheriff israel, i do want to start with you about a question that was asked earlier. You ordered today that a deputy or deputies in Broward County will be present at douglas school, but also at schools throughout Broward County, carrying rifles, armed. This afternoon, President Trump suggested that teachers, we should think about arming them as well. We discussed that a little bit earlier. Im wondering what you as a Law Enforcement officer, what you think . I dont believe teachers should be armed. I believe teachers should teach. But thats exactly whats wrong with this country. We have people in washington, d. C. , representatives, senators and legislators telling teachers what they should do without asking teachers, what do you want to do . Okay. I want to bring in right now senior emma gonzalez. She has a question. She has a question for dana. [ cheers and applause ] first of all, i want to thank mr. Fostner for teaching us everything we learned. I could no have written that speech without you. Half of that was like directly from notes and i want to thank you for that. Second of all oh, i had a thing i was going to say. Happens to the best of us. All right. Dana loesch, i want to know that we will support your two children in the way that you will not. The shooter at our school obtained weapons that he used on us legally. Do you believe that it should be harder to obtain the semiautomatic and weapons weapons, and the modifications for these weapons to make them fully automatic like bump stocks. Well, first off, emma, i want to applaud you for standing up and speaking out. And for anyone who has ever criticized you or any of these students up here, including people who have been on my side of this issue, i dont think that anyone should deny you your voice or deny you your position because you are young. We want to thank you for that. I was a very politically active teenager. And im on this stage as a result of that. Think of how far you all could go as a result of voicing your beliefs. Now, i want to answer your question and i want to be allowed the opportunity, which is why i am here, to talk and have this discussion with you all and answer these questions. This is why i came down here. I dont believe that this insane monster should have ever been able to obtain a firearm. Ever. I do not think that he should have gotten his hands on any kind of weapon. Thats number one. This individual was nuts. And i, nor the millions of people that i represent as a part of this organization that im here speaking for, none of us support people who are crazy, who are a danger to themselves, who are a danger to others getting their hands on a firearm. And we have been, for over 20 years, and i have been screaming about this, which is why im here, because i have kids. And im not just fighting for my kids, im fighting for you. Im fighting for you. Im fighting for all of you. Because i dont want anyone to ever be in this position again. I want everyone to think about this for one second, and this goes right into your question. Do you know that it is not federally required for states to actually report people who are prohibited possessors, crazy people, people who are murderers . No . Weve been actually talking about that for a long time. Let me answer the question. Let me answer the question. You can shout me down when im finished, but let me answer emmas question. It is not federal law for states to report convictions to the nics system. Its not federally mandated. Thats the big question. And i wish that this network had also covered this more, as other Media Networks would have covered it. Thats a huge wait a second wait a second you guys, if i cant hear her statement, i cant come up with a rebuttal. Please. Wait a second. Do you guys want to stop mentally insane individuals from getting firearms . Yes . They have to be in the system, if they are convicted. You can convict them, you can adjudicate them mentally unfit. If a state does not report it to the National Crime information center, when you run that form, this individual passed this madman passed a background check. How was he able to pass a background check . He was able to pass a background check because we have a system thats flawed. The Sutherland Springs murderer was able to pass a background check because the air force did not report that record. I think im going to interrupt you real quick and remind you that the question is actually, do you believe it should be harder to obtain these semiautomatic weapons and modifications to make them fully automatic, such as bump stocks . Well, i think the atf is deciding about bump stocks right now. The president ordered the doj to look into im asking your opinion as a representative of the nra. Thats what the nras position has been. Whats yours . Im talking for them. These are the 5 million members that im here representing. Thats what that groups position has been on that. So that answers your question. And they spoke about that before the president made a move, and they spoke about that before attorney general Jeff Sessions made an announcement about that, too. So that answers your question with that. Let me interject for a second, though. And i understand youre standing up for the nra and i understand thats what youre supposed to do. But you just told this group of people that you are standing up for them. Youre not standing up for them until you say, i want less weapons. [ cheers and applause ] these people want three things. And i come here tonight with 39 years in Law Enforcement. Ive baker acted people. Ive taken weapons from people. The men and women that ive worked with for 40 years. We know how to keep america safe, number one. We have to youre right, we have to take weapons out of the hands of people that suffer from mental illness. We have to expand the baker act. We have to be able, when Police Encount