'More chaos': Outrage as Florida plans to lower age restriction in Parkland 2018 gun safety bill from 21 to 18

FLORIDA, UNITED STATES: A recent startling development emerged in Florida when the state legislature advanced the Parkland 2018 gun safety law, which lowers the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 21 to 18. This move generated significant attention among internet users, sparking discussions and debates online.

The state of Florida has been grappling with a series of gun-related incidents, prompting widespread protests from concerned citizens. One such tragic incident involved the shooting death of James Khoury by his grandson, Joshua Nareau, who now faces murder charges.

Nareau allegedly shot Khoury as he was preparing to leave for work, adding to the alarming trend of gun violence in the state.

Age restriction change from 21 to 18 in Oakland 2018 gun safety law moves to Florida House

As reported by the Florida Phoenix, Florida House Republicans have taken steps toward repealing two significant provisions of gun laws enacted following the tragic 2018 school shooting in Parkland, which claimed the lives of 17 students and staff members. However, the likelihood of either provision becoming law later this year remains uncertain.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced a proposal, HB 1223, on Wednesday, aiming to lower the age for purchasing a long gun from 21 to 18. Yet, this measure lacks a counterpart in the Senate.

According to the Florida Phoenix, supporters of amending the law argue that Florida stands out for prohibiting individuals under 21 from purchasing a shotgun or rifle, with only eight states currently imposing such restrictions, as indicated by Everytown for Gun Safety.

Luis Valdes, the Florida state president of Gun Owners of America, expressed, “If you can enlist at 18, if you can become a law enforcement officer at 19 if you can vote at 18 if you can start businesses and own property, and do every other right as an adult, why is it that your rights are restricted under the age of 21 under an unalienable God-given right that the Supreme Court has ruled multiple times belongs to we the people?”

However, this proposed change has sparked outrage among many gun-safety advocates, as per the Florida Phoenix.

Jacquelyn Valentine, a volunteer with the Tallahassee chapter of Moms Demand Action, voiced her discontent as reported by the Florida Phoenix, stating, "I don’t understand why we’re here. It’s as if Parkland never happened. You are dishonoring Parkland victims, and to me, it’s a slap in the face. If you let this bill go and approve it, it’s like spitting on those graves."

As reported by the Florida Phoenix, the lawmaker representing parts of northeast Florida and sponsoring the bill emphasized the significant investment of over $1 billion in school security measures following the Parkland tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.

Payne also cited concerns about illegal immigration as a rationale for allowing young Floridians to purchase long guns, stating, “With the number of people that are coming across our border today, with the number of violations that are occurring at the federal level, I think people need to be able to protect themselves and have a gun," as per the Florida Phoenix.

The committee approved the bill along party lines, sending it to the full floor for a vote. Another proposal, HB 17, approved by the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, focuses on implementing a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases.

As per the Florida Phoenix, The HB 17, law mandates background checks for firearm purchases. A new bill, passed in committee on Wednesday, stipulates that if a background check takes longer than three days, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) must issue a conditional approval.

If the purchaser is later found ineligible, FDLE notifies the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and local law enforcement for firearm retrieval.

Major School shooting incident in Florida

Recent events have garnered significant scrutiny and discussion. One notable incident that fueled demands for tighter gun regulations in Florida transpired on February 14, 2018.

Amid this tragic occurrence, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz unleashed gunfire upon students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, situated just outside Miami, Florida, USA. According to reports from Fox News, the shooting resulted in the loss of 17 lives and inflicted injuries upon 17 others.

Cruz, a former student of the school, fled on foot, blending into the crowd of students, before being apprehended without resistance around an hour and twenty minutes later in nearby Coral Springs. Law enforcement and legal authorities probed into Cruz's history of disciplinary problems and concerning behavior patterns.

Internet users call Florida lawmakers 'regressive'

Internet users had a sarcastic take on the update on Reddit.

A user wrote, "Oh thank God because if there's one thing we need, especially in Florida, are more guns. They should just remove the age restrictions completely. Good job Florida - you're really helping the average person deal with food and rent prices."

Another user wrote, "Good thinking again, Regressives!"

A user commented, "More chaos for Florida."

Another user commented, "So even younger parents can leave them lying around for their toddlers."

 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.