A top Republican donor has threatened to withhold political donations from candidates that do not support passing a new ban on assault weapons. Al Hoffman Jr., a real estate developer and former ambassador to Portugal, wrote an email Saturday to GOP congressional leadership in which he said he would not cut another check until the Party backs a new assault-weapons ban.
Hoffman’s demand comes in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, mass shooting where a gunman walked into the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and began firing, killing seventeen and wounding fourteen others. An AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was believed to have been used in the attack.
An assault weapons ban was in place until 2004 when it expired. Efforts to renew the ban in Congress have repeatedly fallen short. Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein of California has announced her intention to introduce a bill that would require all individuals purchasing a rifle from gun dealers to be 21 years old over.
Republicans believe any legislative efforts should instead be focused on strengthening America’s mental health system.
Hoffman served as co-chair of George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign for president and as the finance chair of the Republican National Committee. In addition, he’s also worked closely over the last ten years with campaigns for Jeb Bush, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio.