Students Demand Action On Gun Violence In National Walkout; Interview With Florida Rep. Ted Deutch Discussing Passage of School Safety Bill Without Gun Control Measures
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Nearly a million students walked out of their classrooms Wednesday in a nationwide protest demanding action to stop gun violence. The show of student solidarity coming one month after the Florida school massacre and in response to a lack of action by Congress. But one thing is happening in Congress and Florida Congressman Ted Deutch knows all about it. He joins us now. Good morning, Congressman.</s>REP. TED DEUTCH (R), FLORIDA: Good morning, Alisyn. How are you?</s>CAMEROTA: I'm well. Before we get to what's happening --</s>DEUTCH: Good.</s>CAMEROTA: -- in Congress tell us about what -- I know you marched alongside the students yesterday so what was the scene like?</s>DEUTCH: Well, we walked out of the Capitol onto the lawn and greeted thousands of students who were part of this national movement that refuses to allow things to go back to the way they were. That refuses to allow the gun lobby to try to push this issue off of the center of the agenda and to keep it where it belongs and to now allow the extremists to control this debate. There are common-sense measures that we can take right now to make our communities and our schools, especially, safer. These kids know it, the American people know it, and they're going to continue to speak out until we do.</s>CAMEROTA: OK, so let's talk about that because you introduced a bill -- a bipartisan bill. It was passed by the House. That is noteworthy, I think -- about gun violence. So let me just tell people what's in it. Fifty million dollars a year for a new federal grant program to train students, teachers, and law enforcement on how to spot and report signs of gun violence. We have a graphic that also says that it's funding for metal detectors and better school security. So you admit, however, it does not do the tougher work of banning bump stocks, or fixing the background system, or getting weapons of war, as you call them, off the streets. So how do you feel about this? Good start, doesn't go far enough?</s>DEUTCH: Sure. Well, let's be clear about one thing, Alisyn. This is not a response to the tragedy that happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. This is a piece of legislation that I introduced a couple of weeks before the shooting. It's a good bill. It's the kind of thing that can help. It can help identify potential threats and keep schools safe. But a lot of people are trying to suggest that this is the response. It is not the response. I'm glad it passed and I'm glad that we were able to do something in a bipartisan way. And the fact that it was even on the floor is only because of the advocacy of families and these students. But this isn't -- this isn't the necessary response. We do have to move forward on all of those things that have broad bipartisan support. It is outrageous -- and this is what the kids were saying yesterday. It's outrageous that now more than one month after the shooting the speaker of the House and Senate majority leader refuse to let us debate the common-sense things like banning bump stocks, like raising the age to buy a gun to 21, and especially, universal background checks -- refusing to let us debate those on the floor. That's what needs to happen. Yes, this was a good bill but we can't allow the gun lobby or anyone else to let us -- let anyone believe that this is the response to the shooting. We know what we have to do to keep our schools and communities safe. We just need the increased pressure of these kids to make that happen. On the 24th, the "March For Our Lives" when there are marches in more than 700 cities in the United States and around the world, the pressure to act will only be greater.</s>CAMEROTA: I'm glad you clarified all of that because obviously, it is confusing. One of your colleagues in the Senate, Marco Rubio who, of course, represents Florida and was there with you at our CNN town hall, he introduced a bill yesterday. It was about Daylight Saving Time. He wants to make it year-round. Do you think that helps gun violence?</s>DEUTCH: (Laughing) I assume that's a rhetorical question, Alisyn?</s>CAMEROTA: Well, I mean, I guess my point is that things are being done in --</s>DEUTCH: Yes.</s>CAMEROTA: -- Congress but they're not being done on this issue of --</s>DEUTCH: Of course.</s>CAMEROTA: -- even his home state. And I just want you to explain why --</s>DEUTCH: I don't --</s>CAMEROTA: -- this would be his priority.</s>DEUTCH: Yes. I can't explain that and I will not debate the merits of making sure -- of extending Daylight Saving Time year-round. That is not a serious debate that we should be having right now a month after 17 people were slaughtered in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It's crazy -- come on. We know -- Alisyn, you were there. You met with these kids. You know how passionate they are and you know that they're going to continue to force this onto the agenda. Everything that's done in this town where the gun lobby is involved is meant to distract and to change the subject. We cannot let that happen. If you find some other members of Congress or the Senate who want to debate Daylight Saving Time go ahead and do it. I'm not doing that. I'm going to talk about the need to take action on gun violence.</s>CAMEROTA: I mean, listen, I don't know. I'm not as confident as you are that the kids' action and the kids' marches and these national movements will get the Senate or your colleagues in the House to begin debating the things that the students are calling for. I mean, I just can't be sure of that.</s>DEUTCH: Well, can I just point out a couple of things though? It's a month after the shooting. We're still talking about it. That's unusual. There will be millions of people participating in this march. That will drive the debate -- that's important. But let's look at the accomplishments already. More than a dozen companies who have broken off their relationship with the gun lobby. Companies like Dick's who have made the right and courageous decision based on principles to say -- and morals -- that we're not going to continue to sell the weapons of war like the one that was used to slaughter all of the people in Stoneman Douglas and is the weapon of choice in mass shootings. Those steps forward are unlike what we've seen after other mass shootings. Things are changing. I understand that here, members of the Senate and some in the House may choose to debate the merits of year-round Daylight Saving Time. But for kids who are worried in their schools, for parents who are worried whether their kids are going to come home at the end of the day after they drop their kids off in the morning, they know what we need to be debating. I -- let me just point out --</s>CAMEROTA: Yes.</s>DEUTCH: -- everyone's been focused on the outcome of the election in western Pennsylvania. That's a huge win but what Conor Lamb did even on this issue. He and I may differ on some of the gun issues. I know we do but he supports background checks -- expanded background checks -- as do most members of the NRA. We can't allow the gun lobby to try to distract us and we can't allow members of Congress to try to move on to talking about Daylight Saving Time when what we ought to be talking about is keeping our kids safe.</s>CAMEROTA: Congressman Ted Deutch, we appreciate you being on NEW DAY. Thank you very much.</s>DEUTCH: Thanks, Alisyn. Great to be with you.</s>CAMEROTA: You, too -- Chris.</s>CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Some sad news for lovers of Geoffrey the Giraffe. Toys 'R' Us is announcing that it's going out of business. Why the iconic store is being forced to close, next.