TALLAHASSEE—A slew of pro-gun measures flew through their first House committee Wednesday, aimed at expanding firearm access and repealing a swath of 2018's massive gun control act passed after Florida's deadliest school shooting.
The three measures, all filed by conservatives, faced scrutiny from the five Democrats on the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and a crowd of gun-protection advocates. The influx of pro-gun measures filed this session, totaling 11 bills, follows Gov. Ron DeSantis's insistence on more Second Amendment protections.
One of the more controversial bills taken up by the Wednesday committee would lower the gun-buying age from 21 to 18, reversing a portion of the bipartisan gun control act passed in 2018, named the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act for the Parkland high school massacre by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz.
“House Bill 59 seeks to rectify an inconsistency in our legal framework by ensuring that all adult citizens in Florida are afforded their full Second Amendment rights,” said bill sponsor Rep. Michelle Salzman, noting that 18-year-olds can vote, get married, and enter into the armed forces.
But Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Democrat from Weston, blasted the bill as a “slap in the face” to the families of the 17 students and teachers murdered on Valentine’s Day, 2018.
“I was there the night after the tragedy. I went to the funerals,” said Bartleman, noting that 18 to 20-year-olds are the age group most likely to commit gun homicides. “To go backwards is a slap in the face.”
The bill, which has been introduced three times since the Parkland law took effect, passed its first committee down party lines. If signed by the governor, it would be the first portion of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act to be overturned. DeSantis has asked lawmakers to repeal some of its other provisions, including nixing red flag laws temporarily removing firearms from those deemed a threat and to grant open carry.
But rare pushback from GOP leaders, including Senate President Ben Albritton, has stymied any such bill being filed for the 2025 session.
On Feb. 14, 2018, gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with an AR-15 rifle. 14 students and 3 teachers were killed, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting in the state's history. In response, the Legislature under Gov. Rick Scott called a special session to pass massive gun reform legislation.
What other bills advanced through the Committee?
The Criminal Justice Subcommittee also took up and passed a measure allowing off-duty law enforcement to carry firearms at athletic events. Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Holcomb, the bill allows these officers, as long as they have an ID identifying them, to enter the sporting arena with their concealed weapons.
“Due to the capacity of [sports venues] to host hundreds or thousands of spectators, sports venues are vulnerable to becoming targets of terrorism,” said Holcomb, who acknowledged that he may expand his bill to include concerts hosted at sporting arenas.
“To have a good guy with a gun be there in case a bud guy is there with a weapon is a win for our community,” he added.
Despite pushback from public groups on the left—for increasing the location of guns—and the right—for not expanding the right to all gun owners—HB 1021 passed in a 16-1 vote.
The committee later approved a measure by Rep. Debbie Mayfield, who’s currently pursuing her old seat in the state Senate, repealing the ban on firearm and ammunition sales during a state of emergency.
“This is a repeal bill and will allow businesses and families to protect themselves when they’re most vulnerable,” she said of her bill, HB 6025.
It passed 15-3.
Its Senate companion passed its first committee hurdle on Tuesday.
