Barrar: Why I am now supporting HB 1400

The shooting at Parkland School has truly had an effect on everyone I know. We are all taken back by this tragedy and are asking ourselves how can this keep happening?

We are desperately searching for answers or solutions. At times it is very difficult to sort out what is fact, fiction or misleading information due to being bombarded with news through the media 24/7.

As a grandparent of five, I too have concerns for the safety and welfare of my children as they leave the house each morning. These tragedies do not discriminate and as Americans we are all affected.

As you might imagine, over the last few days I have received dozens of phone calls and emails … many were seeking answers and many just wanted to vent and express their concerns about this failure to protect our children. I have asked myself a dozen times … what has changed in our culture … why would a student go to school and harm so many of his classmates.???

Whether it is a failure in our mental health system, our law enforcement or the need for changes to our gun laws, many have offered their suggestions on how to address this problem.

This brings us to HB 1400, which is an expanded background check bill. I am planning to co-sponsor this legislation in the upcoming days – not because I believe it to be the panacea it is being sold as – but I do believe we need to have a debate on this issue and maybe come away with some amendments to improve the legislation and compromises to tighten up failures in our system.

The problem with the background check system in place today is that it will stop a person with a serious mental illness,or a protection from abuse order and a convicted felon from legally purchasing a firearm, but it does nothing to stop them from buying a firearm illegally. We need to do more to stop straw gun purchases and the illegal sale of guns through tough enforcement of our current gun laws. Its hard to put faith in new laws when we are not properly enforcing our current laws.

If a person who is ineligible to buy a firearm attempts to buy one and their purchase is denied due to their status there should be notification of the illegal attempt

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