Florida governor signs gun limits; NRA sues

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a farreaching school-safety bill Friday that places new restrictions on guns, cementing his state’s break with the National Rifle Association and decades of Republican thinking on gun control in the aftermath of the Parkland high school attack.

Hours after Scott signed the bill, the National Rifle Association filed a federal lawsuit over the legislation, saying it violates the Second Amendment by raising the age to buy guns from 18 to 21.

Lawyers for the NRA want a federal judge to block the new age restriction from taking effect.

Surrounded by family members of the 17 people killed in the shooting just over three weeks ago, the GOP governor said the bill balances “our individual rights with need for public safety.”

“It’s an example to the entire country that government can and has moved fast,” said Scott, whose state has been ruled for 20 years by gun-friendly Republican lawmakers.

Tony Montalto, whose daughter Gina was killed in the shooting, read a statement from victims’ families: “When it comes to preventing future acts of horrific school violence, this is the beginning of the journey. We have paid a terrible price for this progress.”

The bill fell short of achieving the ban on assault-style weapons sought by survivors. The gunman who opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School used such a weapon, an AR-15 rifle.

Mark Wallheiser / Associated Press Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act in the governor’s office at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., on Friday. Scott is flanked by the victims’ parents Jennifer Montalto, left, Ryan Petty, second from left,...