Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly called for several nationwide gun laws to be passed, including an assault weapons ban, tougher universal background checks, and an expansion of red flag laws, presumably following two mass shootings at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and Bondi Beach near Sydney, Australia over the weekend.
"After the tragic events of this weekend, it’s clear: we need to have a serious conversation about gun violence," Jolly wrote. "Our country suffers needlessly and there are commonsense steps we can take: ban the sale of assault weapons, require universal and comprehensive background checks, explore licensing, and preserve and expand the red flag laws."
"We can respect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and also take sensible steps to prevent these tragedies," Jolly continued. "I promise to continue to listen to experts, engage with responsible gun owners, and put our kids’ safety ahead of political pressure."
The shooting at Brown University left two people dead and nine others wounded during the second day of final examination week for the fall semester. A suspect in the shooting is still at large.
In Australia, a father and son allegedly opened fire on hundreds of people attending a Hanukkah Celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 (not including one of the alleged shooters) while leaving at least 40 people injured on Sunday.
50-year-old Sajid Akram was killed on the scene. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, is currently in the hospital after being shot by police.
The shooting, Australia's worst since 1996, is being treated as a terrorist attack by Australian authorities against the Jewish community. Both men are believed to have been inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS), according to multiple reports.
Two homemade ISIS flags were reportedly also found in a car registered to the younger suspect.
Jolly, a former Republican Congressman, announced his run for Florida governor in June. He has since outlined several policy positions in his run, including a plan to tackle the state's affordability crisis and a robust investment in Florida's education system.
