IAN: TODAY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE GOP SENATE CANDIDATES.
SEVEN REPUBLICANS ARE RUNNING FOR THEIR PARTY’S NOMINATION, AND THE CHANCE TO TAKE ON DEMOCRAT DOUG JONES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION THIS FALL.
WHEN I TALKED WITH THE GOP HOPEFULS, OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE INCLUDED A RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING RED FLAG LAWS, SCHOOL SECURITY AND HELPIN -- TOMMY TUBERVILLE SAYS THEY
ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
HE BELIEVES STATES MUST FIGURE OUT WAYS TO HELP DISTRICTS STRUGGLING TO MEET SCHOOL SECURITY DEMANDS.
HE ALSO RETURNED TO A POINT HE MADE EARLIER IN OUR DISCUSSION, ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
>> WE DON’T HAVE A GUN PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A PEOPLE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.
UNTIL WE START ADDRESSING THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS.
IAN: STANLEY ADAIR SAYS WE HAVE ENOUGH GUN LAWS ON THE BOOKS, AND HE WANTS TO SEE THEM BETTER ENFORCED.
HE’S OK WITH LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF RED FLAG LAWS, BUT STRESSED HE’S AGAINST ANYTHING THAT TAKES FREEDOMS AWAY FROM LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.
IN TERMS OF SCHOOL SECURITY, HE SAYS WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP DISTRICTS THAT CAN’T AFFORD TO UP THEIR SCHOOL SECURITY MEASURES.
>> OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
IF WE DON’T HAVE THOSE THINGS IN PLACE THEN ANYONE CAN WALK INTO A CAMPUS.
GOD FORBID THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE DON’T WANT TO SEE THAT ANYWHERE.
IAN: CONGRESSMAN BRADLEY BYRNE SAYS AT THIS POINT, HE’S NOT BEHIND RED FLAG LAWS.
BECAUSE OF CONCERNS OVER THOSE LAWS GIVING AWAY A PERSON’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.
HE SAYS FEDERAL FUNDING CAN HELP DISTRICTS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD INCREASED SECURI MEASURES PUT IN PLACE MEASURES THEY SEE FIT.
>> THERE IS NO ONE SHOT, NO ONE THING WE CAN DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH A MULTITUDE OF THINGS.
BUT LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS THAN ANYBODY IN WASHINGTON.