Marco Rubio on Gun Control
TL;DR
Marco Rubio generally opposes new gun control laws, arguing they impede law-abiding owners, but has supported some specific measures after mass shootings.
Key Points
He stated in a 2015 interview that new gun control laws would not have prevented the San Bernardino attack.
Following the 2018 Parkland shooting, he suggested supporting "gun violence restraining orders" and raising the minimum age to buy rifles.
He voted against a bipartisan gun control bill passed by Congress in the summer of 2022, which provided funding for red flag laws.
Summary
Senator Marco Rubio maintains a core position against broad new gun control legislation, frequently arguing that such laws do not prevent criminals or determined attackers from obtaining weapons. Following high-profile tragedies, particularly the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in his home state, he has faced intense scrutiny and has sometimes signaled a willingness to consider specific, targeted reforms. He has stated that major mass shootings often occur despite existing gun laws and that the fundamental issues are cultural changes and mental health concerns, not solely the availability of firearms to legal owners.
After the Parkland shooting, Rubio's stance saw some evolution, which was met with both criticism and cautious welcome. He expressed support for measures like raising the minimum age for purchasing rifles and enacting "gun violence restraining orders," also known as red flag laws, though he later opposed a bipartisan federal bill that included funding for such laws, citing concerns about potential abuse. This pattern of opposing broad restrictions while suggesting support for limited interventions after major events positions his stance as complex, often drawing criticism from gun control activists who point to his significant financial ties to the gun lobby.
Key Quotes
None of these crimes that have been committed, or in this case, what I believe was a terrorist attack in California, would have been prevented by expanded background checks. The fact of the matter is, these individuals would've passed expanded background checks . . . .
Frequently Asked Questions
Marco Rubio generally opposes comprehensive new gun control laws, asserting that they will not deter criminals and only restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens. He often frames the issue around mental health and cultural problems rather than firearm access. However, he has indicated openness to specific, targeted reforms following major mass casualty events.
His stance appears to have evolved in specifics following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, where he expressed support for raising the rifle purchase age and red flag laws. Critics point to this as a shift, while he defends it as an adaptation based on new information and circumstances, maintaining his overall opposition to broader restrictions.
Marco Rubio has explicitly argued that gun control laws do not work to stop determined attackers, pointing to past mass shootings where perpetrators passed existing checks. He asserted during a 2022 debate that proposed restrictions would have done nothing to stop several recent massacres.
Sources6
Marco Rubio Talks About Gun Violence on CBS This Morning
Marco Rubio Tells Val Demings in Debate 'Gun Control ...
Marco Rubio: where does he stand on gun control?
At shooting town hall, Rubio on the defensive on gun control
Marco Rubio Believes in Gun Control Measures — but not for ...
Gun control activists call out Marco Rubio on NRA ...
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.