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U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican combat veteran and longtime NRA member, spoke at the March For Our Lives rally in Stuart. EVE SAMPLES/TCPALM
Karen Vaughn, mother of fallen U.S. Navy SEAL Aaron Carson Vaughn, speaks at the Republican National Convention in 2016.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)Stuart Gold Star mother and Republican activist Karen Vaughn will not mount an Aug. 28 primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City."At this time, my family and I have decided that it would not be in the best interest of our community to push forward with a political campaign with just a little over four months to go until the Republican primary," Vaughn said in a statement to TCPalm late Tuesday. On April 4, Vaughn told TCPalm she was considering running because many people in District 18 — representing Martin, St. Lucie and northern Palm Beach counties — had approached her to challenge Mast because of his voting record and policy positions. "I have been humbled by the outpouring of support," Vaughn said in the release. "Constituents of (the district) have been reaching out to me since August 2017, asking me to challenge Mast in the 2018 primary based on their displeasure with many of his votes since taking office."Second Amendment A major factor in the race, Vaughn said, is Mast's recent decision to call for a moratorium of AR-15 sales[1], which has drawn some criticism from several conservatives. Mast's bill would create a 60-day moratorium on the sale or transfer of "assault rifles." During that time, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would be required to file a report that would define the term "assault weapon" and make policy recommendations on gun sales. Vaughn urged Mast and other Republicans to not veer from President Donald Trump's 