Photo: CBS 12
Governor DeSantis was asked today about the potential for a special session on gun control.
The governor asked what the lawmakers who are calling for a special session "want to do." A reporter laid out a list of things that have been talked about, including more regulations on magazines for high capacity rifles.
The governor cited record funding for school safety and security, along with mental health in the new state budget.
"We've done 3 quarters of a billion dollars just for school security since 2019."
He went on to say this:
"With all due respect to these Leftists, they just want to come after your Second Amendment rights. Let's just be honest, that's what they want to do. They view you as a law abiding citizen as the target of what they're trying to do."
Among the things that lawmakers in favor of a special session say they want is an expansion of Florida's so-called "red flag" law, which was one of several requirements passed after the Parkland school shooting over four years ago.
Without the governor calling lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session, 60-percent of both chambers would have to support one.
The governor was also asked to comment on a Washington Post report that his press secretary used to work for an eastern European politician.
Christina Pushaw, at an earlier press conference with DeSantis in Fort Myers Beach, told reporters that she registered this week as a foreign agent of the former president of Georgia, whom she worked for from 2018 to 2020.
The article stated that while Pushaw's actions are not criminal, critics wonder why she hadn't been transparent about it.
Gov. DeSantis' response:
"I am not deterred by any smear piece from these legacy media outlets. The only reason they're attacking her is 'cause she does a great job and she's very effective at calling out their lies and their phony narratives."
Pushaw insists her work for the Ukrainian politician has nothing to do with her work in Florida.
DeSantis was at the Cox Science Center in West Palm Beach to talk about the environmental priorities in the budget that takes effect next month.
The governor highlighted the signing of the Freedom First Budget and more than $1.2 billion for Everglades restoration and the protection of Florida’s water resources.
Florida has now surpassed DeSantis' four-year goal with a total investment of more than $3.3 billion for Everglades restoration and the protection of water resources since 2019.