WASHINGTON �� Todd Foote came to Saturday's March for Lives in Washington because of his son Austin.
Austin is a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a gunman killed 17 people Feb. 14. Scott Beigel, his cross-country coach, was among the victims. So were four of his friends. His best friend's sister was in the hospital for two weeks.
Foote describes himself as a registered Republican.
"But this has changed everything" he said. "I will never vote for politicians who are pawns of the (National Rifle Association)."
Foote and his family were among many Floridians who came to the nation's capital Saturday to voice their concerns about Congress response _ or the lack of one _ to gun violence.
Many demonstrators voiced anger at lawmakers who, in their opinion, have failed to do enough. In Florida, what candidates are willing to do in response to gun violence has taken on a new importance in midterm campaigns.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was one of many Democrats from the Florida delegation who took part in the march.
"I think it is so monumental that every candidate for every office that is on ballot is going to have an answer ready _ do you care more about NRA than protecting students lives," she said.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., also was at the march. Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, he has become increasingly vocal about changing gun laws.
His potential Republican challenger, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, signed gun legislation this month.
The bill passed by Florida's Legislature raised the minimum age for purchasing many weapons to 21, bans bump stocks for firearms and creates a three-day waiting period for certain guns.
The legislation would also allow courts to prevent people with mental illness from obtaining a firearm.
But the law also contains a provision that would let for school personnel who are not teachers to carry firearms if the local government allows it and if the personnel complete 132 hours of training.
"This is a far different way of operating than the typical inefficiency we see from the federal government in Washington," Scott said during the signing. "Politics in D.C. seems to always get in the way of actually enacting measures that will help American families."
Mixed reactions Floridians participating Saturday's march were divided about the legislation Scott signed.
Lana Duca, a student at Florida State University, criticized Scott for not facing her and other protesters who demonstrated last month in Tallahassee, Florida's state capital.
"What I find frustrating is that Rick Scott did make a few changes for Florida, but he also wouldn't come and show his face when there were 2,000 people at his front door asking him to do more," she said.
Scott did not attend the march in Washington or any other anti-gun violence demonstration Saturday.
Todd Foote said he and wife Denise had called "every single member" of the state Legislature to urge them to pass the law Scott signed. And he had some good things to say about Scott.
"He actually bucked the NRA, which I'm very happy with," Foote said.
He's not sure how he'll vote in the Senate race this November.
"The fact Scott stood up to the NRA, I'm leaning towards him because I do espouse a lot of those principles," he said. But if Scott "starts to kind of fall backwards and fall back into the NRA's trap," Foote said, he'd consider voting for Nelson.
Broad support Democrats from other states _ including a couple who may be contemplating a presidential run in 2020 _ also lent their support to the march in D.C.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., accompanied students from Newark, where he was mayor before his election to the Senate.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who has changed her position on guns dramatically since the days when she once said she had two guns under her bed, came to the march with her sons.
And Gil Cisneros, a candidate in the tight race in California's 39th Congressional District, marched in Washington and posted a photo on Twitter of himself with former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who has become a vocal advocate for gun control after being shot in the head a congressional event.
