After more than two decades, Democrats were able to pass a gun control legislation in the House (H.R. 8), legislation that is focused on increasing background checks on those looking to purchase a weapon.
The final 240 to 190 vote count is being sold as a “bipartisan” effort, but in looking at the final vote, it was split along party lines.
Looking deeper into how lawmakers voted, we found that 8 Republicans sided with Democrats to vote in favor of the gun control legislation.
Of the eight, three are from Florida and one from Texas.
Texas’ Rep. Will Hurd, whose district skirts the southern border to Mexico, has in the past sided with Democrats on immigration reform and healthcare.
“We passed the first gun legislation since we passed the assault weapons ban. I want to pass an assault weapons ban, said Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) after casting her vote. (Source)
Reps. Vern Buchanan, Mario Diaz-Balart (pictured), and Brian Mast, were the three from Florida who joined Hurd, and Reps. Pete King (NY), Chris Smith (NJ), Fred Upton (MI), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), to support increased gun background checks.
Rep, Mast has advocated from a ban on assault weapons, and is considered persona non grata with gun organizations like the NRA.
