After long debate, Florida Senate settles on gun bill
Assault rifle ban is rejected; program to arm teachers survives
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate spent hours debating a bill to increase school safety and restrict gun purchases in a rare Saturday session in the aftermath of last month’s Parkland school shootings.
The Senate spent nearly eight hours debating dozens of amendments to the 100-page bill before finally approving the legislation for a final vote on Monday.
Democratic proposals to ban assault rifles and largecapacity magazines were rejected, as was a Democratic proposal to strip language from the bill that would create a program to arm teachers who have gone through law-enforcement training if school districts choose to take part in the so-called marshal plan.
The Senate began the session at 10 a.m. and was originally scheduled to end discussion by 1 p.m. But senators extended the session and didn’t wrap up until after 6 p.m.
Divisions on the bill did not strictly follow party lines. Although it was crafted by Republicans, some GOP senators still opposed it because they don’t agree with raising the minimum age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21 or requiring a waiting period to buy the weapons.
Democrats believe the legislation doesn’t go far enough in some ways and too far in others. And while some oppose the bill, others believe it’s at least a first step toward gun safety.
Democrats want to ban weapons such as the AR-15 assault-style rifle, which was used to kill 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14. Many also oppose arming teachers.
The bill also includes provisions to boost school security, establish new mental health programs in schools, and improve communication between schools, law enforcement and state agencies.
Much of the debate Saturday revolved around gun control and whether people have a right to own an assault rifle.
“Every constitutional right that we hold dear has a limitation,” said Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer. “These are just military-style killing machines, and the right of self-defense and the ability to hunt will go on.”
The Legislature wraps up its annual session Friday. Lawmakers are scrambling to take some kind of action before then.
The full House has yet to take up its version of the bill.
Republican Gov. Rick Scott has been lobbying lawmakers to pass his plan to assign at least one lawenforcement officer for every 1,000 students at a school. Scott is opposed to arming teachers.