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THE US STATE of Florida, scene of America’s latest school shooting, passed a bill that raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 while funding a programme that allows some teachers and school employees to be armed.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which takes its name from last month’s mass shooting in which 17 people including 14 students were killed, passed the legislature’s lower house a day after clearing the senate.
It will now be sent to Governor Rick Scott to sign.
The Republican has not indicated whether he would veto the law, but he has previously expressed opposition to US President Donald Trump’s call to arm teachers.
America’s long moribund gun control debate was revived by survivors of the Parkland shooting, who a day after their school was attacked launched the “Never Again” movement demanding legislative action.
The bill raises the minimum age to purchase all firearms from 18 to 21, a move opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group, bans modification devices that make a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic, and increases mental health funding.
It also includes a voluntary guardian programme named after Coach Aaron Feis who was killed in the Parkland attack, which is intended to “aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises” by allowing some school employees to be armed.
The initiative is mainly aimed at staff such as coaches and school personnel, with teachers eligible if they have military or law enforcement experience.
Bringing more guns into school has been a controversial idea, but lawmakers defended the bill.
‘Poison pill’
“I understand the angst about the guardian programme but I can’t help but think about the coaches who literally ran in as shields to protect their students … while guys with guns were standing outside,” said Republican member Chris Latvala.
“If there are school personnel that want to go to the training to help shield the students and protect them, they should have the opportunity,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Democrat legislators said the guardian initiative was a “poison pill” in a law otherwise taking necessary steps towards gun control.
“I’m taking and swallowing that poison pill. As much as I don’t want to, I can’t look in the mirror and leave here and think ‘I did nothing to help’,” said Representative Joseph Geller.
African-American representatives also expressed fears that arming black school employees could leave them vulnerable to being mistaken for attackers by police arriving on the scene of a mass shooting.
Florida has seen three mass shootings in under two years, 49 were killed at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, five at Fort Lauderdale’s international airport in 2017, and now 17 in Parkland.
The bill does not ban the sale of the AR-15 assault rifle, the weapon used by Nikolas Cruz – one of activists’ key demands.
Meanwhile, parents of American children killed in gun violence implored Congress to seize the moment and enact far-reaching gun reform, as the momentum for taking action stalls in politically divided Washington.
With no lawmakers from the controlling Republican Party present, a group of Senate Democrats held a makeshift hearing in the US Capitol to hear testimony from grieving relatives, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, teachers and police officers demanding change to the nation’s laws.
“How many more children are going to need to be slaughtered?” 17-year-old David Hogg asked the senators.
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Why are comments opened on this and never on the Anglo stories or even cases happening in the US. Makes no sense.
@B9xiRspG: no one is charged
@B9xiRspG: it’s not before the courts
@Michael Geraghty: It’s a suitably broad section to cover any number of offences. Pathetic trolling attempt.
@Matt Connolly: sorry – meant for Phil below.
@B9xiRspG: Seriously Jim, why don’t you read up and the court system in Ireland and stop trying to derail every single comment section. It’s juvenile.
Where is Veronica to tell us men are the only ones attacking people
@Kal Ipers: Ah don’t do that. It’s really tacky.
@Kal Ipers: say her name 3 times and she will appear.
#FemaleViolence
#FeminineToxicity
@Unpersoned: It’ll never be as tacky as her misanderous ways
@Kal Ipers: you guys would seriously want to consider getting some lives and getting me off your mind.
@Kal Ipers: Also, I’m not sure if you can either read or count, but I’ve never said “men are the only ones attacking people”, I’ve consistently said that the vast majority of violent crimes are committed by men. Good grief, go back to school.
@Veronica: Perhaps their online interaction with you is the only time they get any attention from a woman, you’re keeping them warm at night. ;)
@Veronica: I’ve been trying to get you off my mind but I just can’t. I need you tonight, cos I’m not sleeping. There’s something about you girl, that makes me sweat. So slide over here and give me a moment ♡♡
@Lisa Saputo: :shudder:
@Kal Ipers: Kal, did you read the article because these women weren’t arrested for stabbing this poor boy?
To have a dig at someone, using a tactic of theirs that you disapprove of, is silly and counterproductive. Let’s build bridges lads and ladies. We’re all in this together whether we like it or not.
@Veronica: You have dismissed women committing violence and hid behind saying men are vastly more responsible. While doing this you ignore they are more likely to be the victim. You amuse me as an example of sexist person who is convinced they are correct by ignoring reality.
If you expressed these views in a paying job you would be rightly fired.
You are a terrible hypocrite who calls out people for not posting comments on other articles but don’t like it when done to you.
have your say