Just a week after two mass shootings left 31 people dead in Texas and Ohio, the Republican Party of Florida is planning two voter registration drives at a gun show, the Tampa Bay Times is reporting.
Emails were sent out Thursday asking for volunteers to help sign up voters at the Pembroke Pines, Florida, gun show Saturday and Sunday. Pembroke Pines is about 30-minutes south of Parkland, where 17 people were murdered in a school shooting last year.
"This is a great opportunity to engage the community and promote the values that make this country strong, prosperous, safe, and great!" the email said, according to the newspaper.
Republican Party chairman Joe Gruters said they did not consider canceling or postponing the voter registration effort, according to the newspaper.
"We're going to target law-abiding citizens and hopefully we'll pick up some new registrations there," Gruters said. "We're not going to let unfortunate incidents that are incredibly sad and terrible effect our efforts."
Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., slammed the effort, however.
He tweeted Thursday night:
"Is this how you send your 'thoughts and prayers' to the families of victims of mass shootings? Is this your response to horrific gun violence in our country? This is disrespectful to the victims & out of touch w/ Americans who want an end to gun violence."
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