The Florida House is set to vote Wednesday on a contentious bill (HB 759) that would lower the minimum age for purchasing rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18, reigniting the state’s fierce debate over gun control.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, and Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, aims to overturn a law enacted after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 people were killed.
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The current age restriction of 21 was implemented by the Legislature and then-Governor Rick Scott in the wake of the Parkland tragedy. However, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other Second Amendment advocates have consistently challenged the law, arguing it infringes upon constitutional rights.
The House has previously passed similar bills to repeal the age restriction in 2023 and 2024. However, the Senate has yet to take up the issue, leaving the bill’s fate uncertain this legislative session.
Opponents of the repeal point to the devastating consequences of the Parkland shooting, where 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz used a semiautomatic rifle to carry out the massacre. They argue that lowering the age limit would increase the risk of similar tragedies.
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The upcoming House vote is expected to be closely watched, as it will signal the chamber’s stance on gun control and set the stage for potential Senate action. The debate underscores the deep divisions within Florida regarding gun regulations and the balance between Second Amendment rights and public safety.
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