Introduction to the Florida Gun Bill
The Florida House has proposed a bill that would reverse a key provision of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. This landmark legislation was passed in the aftermath of the school shooting that killed 17 people and raised the age to buy a gun to 21.
Background of the Legislation
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act was signed into law by then-Gov. Rick Scott just three weeks after the massacre occurred. The law was passed with the support of families of the victims, who lobbied hard for its passage. The law raised the age to buy a gun to 21 because the killer was able to legally purchase an AR-15 at the age of 18.
Different Views on the Gun Bill
Parkland parents who lost their children in the tragedy have different views on the proposed bill. Ryan Petty, who serves on the MSD High School Public Safety Commission and the state’s Board of Education, supports the bill to move the gun purchase age back to 18. Petty’s daughter, Alaina, was murdered in the mass shooting. He believes that every adult in the state of Florida has the right to defend themselves, and this provision prevents 18 to 20-year-olds from being able to defend themselves.
Opposition to the Bill
On the other hand, Tom Hoyer, who lost his son, Luke, in the tragedy, opposes the bill. Hoyer believes that the current law is an important speed bump that prevents young people from buying guns. Along with Tony Montalto, Hoyer founded Stand With Parkland, a non-partisan group that advocates for school safety issues. Montalto has been an outspoken advocate for school safety and gun safety since the day when his daughter, Gina, was killed in the massacre. He strongly supports keeping the firearms purchase age at 21.
Reasons for Supporting the Current Law
Montalto notes that the current law allows active duty military personnel and law enforcement officers under the age of 21 to buy guns. He believes that people should look at this issue again as a public safety issue, and not buy into the what-ifs. Montalto’s family deals with the what-is, and this law was passed because of the what-is, and that is, the murder of his daughter in her school, the murder of her schoolmates, the murder of the teachers by someone who was legally able to purchase a weapon who was under the age of 21.
Reasons for Opposing the Current Law
Petty maintains that the age restriction was included in the original bill as a compromise to assure its passage. He believes that it’s long past time that the legislature remove this provision and focus on the things that actually do protect our schools, such as behavioral threat management, the guardian program, and locking doors and monitoring who’s on campus.
Current Status of the Bill
A companion bill has not yet made it to the Florida Senate, so its passage is far from assured at this point. The Senate rejected similar legislation the last couple of times it came up.
Conclusion
The proposed bill to reverse the provision of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act has sparked a debate among Parkland parents. While some parents support the bill, others oppose it, citing public safety concerns. The fate of the bill remains uncertain, and it is unclear whether it will become law.
FAQs
- What is the proposed bill about?
The proposed bill aims to reverse the provision of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act that raised the age to buy a gun to 21. - Why was the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act passed?
The act was passed in response to the school shooting that killed 17 people, with the aim of improving school safety and preventing similar trajedies from occurring. - What are the different views on the proposed bill?
Parkland parents have different views on the proposed bill, with some supporting it and others opposing it, citing public safety concerns. - What is the current status of the bill?
The bill has passed the Florida House, but a companion bill has not yet made it to the Florida Senate, so its passage is far from assured.The debate surrounding the proposed bill highlights the complexities of the issue and the need for continued discussion and advocacy for school safety and gun safety.
