Fla. Senate debates guns, school safety
Bill would add mental health programs, boost campus security
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate spent hours debating a bill to increase school safety and restrict gun purchases in a rare Saturday session that often turned into a debate on gun control and arming teachers 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 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.
It was clear that senators were divided on the bill, and not just on party lines. While crafted by Republicans, some GOP senators still opposed it because they don’t agree with raising the minimum age to guy 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.
But much of the debate Saturday revolved around gun control and whether people should have a right to own an assault rifle.
“Every constitutional right that we hold dear has a limitation,” Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer said. “These are just militarystyle killing machines and the right of self-defense and the ability to hunt will go on.”
Republicans argued that banning such weapons would violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
“Our founding fathers weren’t talking about hunting, and they weren’t talking about protecting themselves from the thief down the street who might break in,” Republican Sen. David Simmons said. Simmons said people need guns to protect themselves from a tyrannical government.
The Legislature wraps up its annual session on Friday. The full House has yet to take up its version of the bill.