Dean James III% AMERICA’S FREEDOM FIGHTERS –

Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Governor Scott said that he would be quickly organizing meetings with state and local leaders to discuss ways to keep Florida students safe, including school safety improvements and keeping guns away from individuals struggling with mental illness.

Well the Florida House passed a school safety bill Wednesday that includes new restrictions on rifle sales and and include a program to arm some teachers.

The bill will be sent to Governor Scott’s desk for his signature.

The vote of 67-50 reflected a mix of Republicans and Democrats in support and opposition. The measure, a response to the shootings at a Parkland high school that left 17 dead, is supported by the victims’ families, FOX News reported.

 

Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a former Parkland city commissioner, ended the eight hours of debate with an emotional account of seeing the high school after the shooting, attending victims’ funerals and working with students and families while the House was forming the legislation. He broke down in tears after talking about how his 4-year-old son’s writing teacher lost her daughter in the attack.

“You don’t need to stand with me. I don’t need you to stand with me. I need you to stand with the families,” Moskowitz said.

Democratic Rep. Kristin Jacobs said she did not like the idea of arming teachers, but she voted yes.

Republican Rep. Jay Fant said raising the minimum age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21 was unconstitutional, so he voted no.

The bill would raise the minimum age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and create a waiting period on sales of the weapons. It would also create a so-called guardian program that would let school employees and many teachers carry handguns if they go through law enforcement training and if the school district decides to participate in the program.

Other provisions would create new mental health programs for schools; establish an anonymous tip line where students and others could report threats to schools, ban bump stocks and improve communication between schools, law enforcement and state agencies.

Fant, who is running for attorney general, said the gun restrictions violated the constitution.

“I just can’t imagine that Nikolas Cruz can commit such a heinous crime and then as a result we tell, potentially, a 20-year-old single mother living alone that she cannot purchase a firearm to defend herself,” Fant said.

The Florida Senate narrowly passed the bill Monday. Gov. Rick Scott declined to say Wednesday whether he would sign the legislation.

From the Tallahassee Democrat:

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act provides:

• $400 million for mental health and school safety programs,
• $98 million to make schools more physically secured
• $87 million to establish a Safe Schools program
• $69 million for mental health assistance
• $25 million to replace the classroom building where the massacre occurred
• $18.3 million for mobile crisis teams
• $500,000 for mental health first aid training

The measure also contains new gun regulations:

• a minimum age of 21 to purchase a gun (this won’t pass)
• a three-day waiting period for most gun purchases
• easier confiscation of firearms by law enforcement in cases of threats against individuals and public safety. (totally unconstitutional)

For now, all eyes are on Scott.

Reporters pressed him after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting while the debate raged in the House chambers on whether he will sign a bill that allows some teachers to carry a firearm into the classroom.

In a three-minute, thirty-second exchange with reporters, Scott repeated nine times:  “…I am going to take the time to read the bill and talk to families.”

Scott will have 10 days to sign or veto it or it becomes law without his signature.

This is the beginning of the end.

Not good.

TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Dean James III% AMERICA’S FREEDOM FIGHTERS