TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – For years, lawmakers have tried to overturn a Florida regulation banning people beneath 21 from shopping for weapons.
Now a Republican-led invoice advancing by the statehouse might decrease the age required to purchase firearms statewide.
If the measure passes, Floridians 18 and older would have the ability to buy an extended gun, like rifles.
House Bill 759 cleared its committee stops within the Home and is all set to be debated on the ground. However to ensure that it to reach on the Governor’s desk, there must be motion over within the Senate, and it is unclear if that can occur this legislative session.
“It is exhausting to have a coverage dialogue when there’s a lot emotion within the room, and I believe that is what occurred years in the past when the unique invoice was handed,” mentioned State Consultant Michelle Salzman, (R-Escambia County).
Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty bloodbath in 2018, then Governor Rick Scott signed a package deal of gun security measures, together with the supply elevating the gun-buying age from 18 to 21. That hasn’t stopped lawmakers from making an attempt 12 months after 12 months to roll again restrictions on the gun-buying age.
“In a matter of minutes, a 19-year-old walked into my highschool and killed 17 and injured 17 extra, a matter of minutes,’ mentioned State Consultant Dan Daley, (D-Coral Springs).
The sponsor of the invoice, Rep. Salzman mentioned whereas she respects the criticism following this subject, she nonetheless feels strongly about shifting ahead with these efforts.
“That is actual uncooked emotion, these are issues that they may in all probability shut their eyes and simply see every little thing replay, even now a few years later,” mentioned Rep. Salzman. “As I mentioned in committee, we’re legislators, and we actually have to take away the emotion from the method and make true logical decisions which are greatest for the constituency and for Floridians.”
Salzman notes that getting this invoice handed has been a Home precedence for years now and was honored to hold the invoice this session. She touts the connection she has with lawmakers throughout the aisle, in addition to the empathy she has for the considerations that encompass the difficulty.
“I’ve had serval occasions in my very own neighborhood the place we’ve individuals in Pensacola who’re residing at dwelling with younger kids, 18- and 19-year-old single mothers who haven’t had the chance to have that and so they have expressed to me that they want to buy a firearm for the safety of their dwelling,” Rep. Salzman mentioned.
Salzman provides that in response to the Parkland capturing, she helps an excessive amount of the invoice package deal that was handed in 2018, however has one downside, the age restrictions to buy a firearm.
In opposition to the invoice, Broward County Faculty Board Chair, Debbie Hixon, shared her connection to the Parkland capturing.
“To me, this seems like salt being poured into an opened wound, households very early into grief and shock of what occurred, got here up right here to Tallahassee and requested you to do one thing and you probably did it, you probably did it as a bi-partisan physique, that believed within the issues that have been on this invoice, and you already know what, it made out communities safer,” mentioned Hixon. “And now you wish to repeal issues, and to me, that makes me really feel like you’ve gotten forgotten who my husband and the opposite 16 victims have been,” Hixon mentioned.
Even with the general public testimony, the invoice nonetheless handed, 16 YAYS-6 NAS.
WHY IS THERE NO TRACTION IN THE SENATE?
State Senator Randy Nice, (R-Brevard County), filed comparable laws and mentioned he believes citizen’s 2nd Modification rights begin when you find yourself an grownup.
“I believe that the critics, whereas I perceive the place they’re coming from, however I believe they need to ask themselves, if they do not consider 18-year-olds needs to be adults then they need to be keen to place that ahead as coverage,” mentioned Sen. Nice. “They need to say at 18 you’ll be able to’t personal a gun, you should not vote, you should not be within the navy, you are both an grownup otherwise you’re not.”
When requested about this particular invoice, State Senate President Ben Albritton continues to be hesitant to provide a agency reply on gun laws.
“This isn’t straightforward, it is not straightforward. I am an NRA lifetime member. Almost day by day I carry at the least one weapon; I’ve a hid carry allow. The legislature handed permitless hid carry, constitutional carry. That reveals this legislature takes a second modification significantly,” mentioned President Albritton.
Consultant Salzman mentioned she is going to proceed to re-file this invoice if it doesn’t make it by the 2025 legislative session, however she stays hopeful it’ll begin shifting within the Senate.
“I believe you are going to see the Home file this invoice yearly till it will get handed,” mentioned Salzman. “Getting it carried out can be nice, so we do not hold placing these households by this, arising right here and having these conversations and having to relive these nightmares.”
