Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a far-reaching school-safety bill Friday that places new restrictions on guns, cementing his state’s break using the National Rifle Association and decades of Republican thinking on gun control a direct consequence within the Parkland high school graduation attack.
Surrounded by members of the family of students killed inside the shooting just over 3 weeks ago, the GOP governor said the balance balances “our individual rights with requirement of public safety.”
“It’s a sample towards entire country that government can and it has moved fast,” said Scott, whose state may be ruled for 20 years by Republican lawmakers who’re friendly to gun owners.
Tony Montalto, whose daughter Gina was killed inside the attack, read your firm stand out from victims’ families: “Relating to preventing future acts of horrific school violence, it is the start of journey. We have now paid a dreadful price just for this progress.”
The bill is under what many survivors had sought. It improves the minimum age to buy rifles from 18 to 21, extends a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases to include long guns and bans bump stocks, which allow guns to imitate fully automatic fire.
It also generates a so-called guardian program that enables some teachers along with school employees to cart guns.
An NRA lobbyist has named the bill “a presentation of bullying and coercion” that violates cost-free Amendment and punishes law-abiding citizens.
Scott said he will be still “not persuaded” for the guardian program under which participating districts can authorize workers to cart handguns should they complete police force training. It is far from mandatory.
“If counties don’t want to do this, they’ll simply say no,” he explained.
Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow died, made his comments to reporters while standing with his teenage son Hunter.
“I wish I can explain how I’m happy. But just how could we be at liberty? We buried a sister, i buried my daughter,” Pollack said. “To my opinion, it’s a start for folks.”
Hunter added, “Let’s obtain the rest of the country to check out our lead and let’s make schools safe. Let’s harden the colleges and assure this never happens again.”
The governor said he signed the legislation to generate schools safer. He singled out two fathers whose children died, on the grounds that they walked the halls on the Legislature because the shooting seeking change.
“I am aware the controversy on most of these issues continue. And that’s healthy with our democracy,” he explained. “This can be a here we are at people to come together, roll up our sleeves and find it done.”
Student activists from the school where shooting came about, named it “a child step.”
“Obviously, and this is what we’ve been fighting for. It’s nowhere at the long-term solution,” said Chris Grady, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Twelfth grade. “It’s a baby step but a huge step at the same time. Florida hasn’t passed any legislation along these lines in God knows the length of time.”
Scott told the students: “You helped change our state. You have made a positive change. You ought to be proud.”
The bill narrowly passed the home and Senate, which formally delivered the reform package on Thursday.
In schools, the measure also creates new mental health programs and establishes an anonymous tip line for reporting threats. What’s more, it seeks to boost communication between schools, the police while stating agencies.
The NRA opposes raising age limits to order weapons or imposing new waiting periods.
Broward County teachers union President Anna Fusco said teachers supported the check yet not the unbooked time which enables the theifs to carry guns.
She said sherrrd like Scott to veto the cash for the guardian program as he receives your budget. The governor cannot veto individual products in into your market itself, but he is doing have line-item veto power together with the budget.
The Broward County school superintendent already has said he doesn’t would like to participate in the program.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old former student charged with opening fire in the school made his initial appearance before a judge. Nikolas Cruz faces 17 counts of murder and attempted murder. From the brief hearing Friday, Cruz stood together with head bowed because he appeared via video conference.
Cruz’s public defender says he can plead guilty if prosecutors accept the death penalty over table and sentence him someone’s in prison instead. Prosecutors are yet to announced a selection.
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Associated Press writers Jason Dearen in Gainesville, Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, and Terry Spencer, Jennifer Kay and Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami brought about this report.
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Follow the AP’s complete coverage of the Florida school shooting here: https://apnews.com/tag/Floridaschoolshooting .
