PITTSBURGH — In the year’s first congressional race, Republican and Democratic candidates in suburban Pittsburgh oppose banning weapons like the semi-automatic rifle used in Florida last week to kill 17 students and teachers.

Rick Saccone, a 60-year-old Republican state lawmaker, says existing laws need better enforcement and societal problems need to be addressed.

Conor Lamb, a 33-year-old Democratic former prosecutor, says background checks need to be improved. Lamb says most of the crimes he’s seen have been committed with handguns by people not allowed to have them.

The candidates participated in an hourlong debate Monday night on KDKA-TV.

The election is March 13.