Gray Rohrer
Six years after lawmakers passed a bill to increase the minimum age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21, a House panel approved a measure to repeal that provision.
The 2018 age limit increase was one part of a package bill that included measures increasing security at schools. But now the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 11-5 along party lines, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed, to move the limit back to 18.
“Restoring the rights of young adults to purchase a long gun for not only self-defense, but for sporting, is very important in my rural area,” said Rep. Bobby Payne, a Palatka Republican sponsoring HB 1223. “We quail hunt, we do a lot of bird hunting. It’s important for those individuals to have their rights restored, and the age of majority is 18.”
The experience of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in 2018, which left 17 dead, including 14 students, permeated the debate over the bill. The shooter was a former student who was 19 at the time. He used an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon.
“There is no need to backtrack on the safety advances but sadly his piece of legislation does just that,” Tony Montalto told the committee. Montalto’s daughter, Gina Montalto, was killed in the massacre.
He urged lawmakers not to tinker with the gun law restrictions included in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act passed after the shooting. “That law is written in the blood of the Parkland victims, including my beautiful daughter Gina.”
Gun rights activists, though, said the bill merely affirms the rights of young adults, who can join the military and become a police officer, to own long guns.
“The fact that the state of Florida has determined that they don’t have the mental capacity to own a firearm is ludicrous,” said Luis Valdez, Florida state director of Gun Owners of America.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act included two other gun law restrictions — a ban on bump stocks and required a three-day waiting period or the completion of a background check to purchase a firearm. GOP leaders in the Legislature at the time of the massacre, along with then-Gov. Rick Scott, approved the legislation.
That bill split both major parties, as some Republicans voted against it because of the gun control provisions, while some Democrats objected to a part of the bill allowing school personnel who complete training to carry a firearm at school.
Now, Democrats are objecting to the move to roll back the gun control portion of the landmark legislation.
“It was a child whose brain was not fully developed, obtaining a gun and coming in and committing a complete massacre,” said Rep. Michelle Rayner, a St. Petersburg Democrat, referring to the shooter. “I don’t know what we’re doing.”
But it’s unclear whether the bill will pass the Legislature this year. There’s no companion measure in the Senate, which must take up and pass it in the remaining six weeks of the Regular Session.
24 comments
shameful
January 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm
SHAME SHAME SHAME .. They put guns in the hands of human beings whose brains are not fully developed…and I’m not even talking about MAGA followers of a cult leader.
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" Ameriecan
January 30, 2024 at 6:29 pm
Good evening “Sage Patriots”,
Somebody needs to find out how much money George Soros is paying Florida’s Senate President, Passadomo, to $hit the “Sage Citizens of Florida” out of “Open Carry” for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
And I, Earl Pitts American, will meet and sweeten The Evil George Soros bribery payment to Passadomo.
Thanks a lot I’m waiting for your phone call.
Earl Pitts Amwrican
Rich7553
January 31, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Yet these same undeveloped brains can vote and be drafted? Tell me, do constitutional rights apply fully at the age of majority or don’t they?
Billy Rotberg
February 6, 2024 at 1:24 pm
TDS mental illness strikes again. Get some mental help!
PeterH
January 30, 2024 at 5:35 pm
Trust me on this ……. If Republicans could have their way they would legalize grenade launchers for 18 year olds!
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" Ameriecan
January 30, 2024 at 6:31 pm
CHASTIZED for spreading Dook 4 Brains Leftist Propaganda.
Earl Pitts is a Pedophile
January 31, 2024 at 10:48 am
CONVICTED of raping underage children.
Rich7553
January 31, 2024 at 12:20 pm
“Trust me.” The claim of liars for millennia.
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Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" Ameriecan
January 30, 2024 at 6:33 pm
CHASTIZED for spreading Dook 4 Brains SPAM.
Michael K
January 30, 2024 at 6:12 pm
We need more murders to support the poor gun makers who need to sell more weapons of death – and Republicans once again sell their souls to the NRA in exchange for $$$.
Feckless sniveling cowards. Shame.
Earl Pitts "Sage Political Expert Emeritas" Ameriecan
January 30, 2024 at 6:32 pm
CHASTIZED for spreading Dook 4 Brains Leftist Propaganda.
Rich7553
January 31, 2024 at 12:21 pm
Yet it’s Democrats who do the majority of murdering.
Billy Rotberg
February 6, 2024 at 1:26 pm
…Spoons make people fat!, right libturd?
KathrynA
January 30, 2024 at 9:59 pm
The effects on our children is what is at stake–this is not leftist propaganda!
Joe
January 31, 2024 at 10:09 am
These NRA stooge RepubliQans are absolute psychos.
Billy Rotberg
February 6, 2024 at 1:27 pm
I’m still not giving up my rights, Nazi!
JD
February 6, 2024 at 2:21 pm
Just your guns.
Josh Green
January 31, 2024 at 10:47 am
When somebody says they want to pass laws to “protect the children!” but at the same time don’t want to do a thing about guns, you can safely assume that person is completely full of 💩 and doesn’t give a single f*ck about kids.
Billy Rotberg
February 6, 2024 at 1:28 pm
I’m still not giving up my rights, Nazi!
JD
February 6, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Just your guns.
Dont Say FLA
January 31, 2024 at 1:52 pm
Why? Did some 18 year old high school student get all butt hurt that he couldn’t buy a rifle and go shoot up his school or what? Well at least his problem will be solved. Yay for Florida’s G0P, solving problems. /s
Billy Rotberg
February 6, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Moot point. There is absolutely no text, tradition or history to support the age restriction. The courts will decide this.
JD
February 6, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Federal law says no on handguns under 21. 18 on rifles and shotguns. The state of Florida has it currently on “long guns” to 21 until this bill is signed.
If those aren’t “text, tradition or history to support the age restriction” I don’t know what is.
Now if you’re trying to say it’s not explicitly in the Constitution, then sure. But to say there’s not a tradition is wrong.
And will the court’s decide? Absolutely.
Comments are closed.