TALLAHASSEE — A bill to tighten some gun sales and allow trained teachers to carry firearms in the classroom was approved by a House committee…
TALLAHASSEE — A bill to tighten some gun sales and allow trained teachers to carry firearms in the classroom was approved by a House committee Tuesday, but for the second straight day a panel of lawmakers rejected an amendment to ban military-style assault weapons.
More than five hours of debate and testimony, including some from students and parents of victims of the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, preceded the vote. Many choked back tears as they described the massacre and its aftermath.
“No matter how much practice you have, it’s not anything compared to the real thing,” said Annabel Claprood, 16, a student at the school. “I’ve done drills, but I did not have the feelings that I felt sitting on the floor because there was a mass shooter two seconds away from me.”
The bill, similar to a Senate measure approved in committee on Monday, includes a three-day waiting period for all guns, increases the age limit for buying a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21, makes it easier for law enforcement to confiscate weapons of the mentally ill and increases funding for school resource officers.
Most speakers were in favor of an assault-style weapons ban amendment offered by Democrats, but every Republican except one, Rep. Bill Hager of Boca Raton, voted against it in the 18-11 tally. A similar amendment was voted down by a Senate panel Monday, likely ending the chance of a ban this year.
“[Assault weapons] were never designed or intended to be used by civilians,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, who offered the amendment. “It is one part of the puzzle but it is a major part of the solution.”
Other speakers urged lawmakers to strip the arming of teachers from the bill, which would only occur if school districts opt-in to it. But they were still in favor of the overall package as a compromise measure to improve school safety.
“We need each one of you to step away from politics and reach inside as parents as grandparents and work together to make a difference,” said Max Schacter, father of Alex Schachter, 14, who was one of the 17 victims of the attack. “It’s time to learn to compromise and make our schools safe again.”
The final vote was 23-6, with two Republicans, Reps. Clay Ingram of Pensacola and Blaise Ingoglia of Springhill, who is also the Republican Party of Florida chairman, voting against it.
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