Florida lawmakers debate lowering gun purchase age to 18

>> WE HAVE 18 BILLS THAT GO TO WAR GET CHOPPED FOOD. I THINK THAT’S KIND OF CRAZY THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE TRYING TO LOWER TODAY AGE OF 18. >> THE DEBATE OVER LOWERING THE AGE TO BUY A GUN IN FLORIDA IS HEATING UP NEARLY 8 YEARS AFTER THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN PARKLAND, SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO DO AWAY WITH THE LAW THAT RAISED THE AGE TO BUY A GUN TO 21 GULF COAST NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVE ELIAS FINDS OUT WHAT THE CHANCES ARE. IT WILL PASS. >> SINCE 2018, YOU’VE HAD TO BE 21 OR OLDER TO WALK INTO A GUN STORE TO BUY A GUN. AND THE FLORIDA HOUSE JUST VOTED THIS WEEK TO LOWER THE AGE TO 18 TO PURCHASE A GUN. >> THE BILL NOW MUST GO BEFORE THE SENATE WHERE IT’S LIKELY TO GET SHOT DOWN. 17 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE PARKLAND SCHOOL SHOOTING 18 OTHERS INJURED. SEEMS LIKE THIS LED LAWMAKERS TO RAISE THE AGE TO BUY A LONG GUN TO 21. WHEN YOU’RE 21, YOU’RE MUCH OLDER AND YOU’RE WAY MORE STABLE OF LIKING A PERSON. IT’S JUST DANGEROUS FOR 18 YEAR OLD STUFF. GUNS AND A MAJORITY OF HOUSE LAWMAKERS DISAGREE. THEY VOTED TO LOWER THE AGE TO BUY A LONG GUN TO 18. I THINK THAT’S KIND OF CRAZY THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE TRYING TO LOWER IT TO AGE OF 18. AND THE REQUEST COMES JUST AFTER FLORIDA MADE OPENLY CARRYING GUNS LEGAL PURCHASE WEAPONS AT 18 AND JOB FAIRS REALIZE AS WELL. A LOT HAS CHANGED. MANY THINGS. HAVEN’T YOU HAVE A TEEN GIRLS GO TO WALL AND LOWERING THE AGE TO 18 MUST STILL GO BEFORE THE SENATE. MANY OF THE SENATORS. >> THAT ARE THEY’RE HERE. A PART OF THE. SO IN 2000. 18 AFTER THE >> MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS SHOOTING WITH THIS. >> THIS CHANGE IN THE LAW CAME ABOUT. AND SENATOR JONATHAN MARTIN ADMITS THE BILL WILL LIKELY HAVE A TOUGH TIME PASSING THE SENATE. THERE’S NOT A COMPANION BILL IS FILING THE SENATE. SO IT’S GOING TO GO. >> THROUGH THE RULES COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE COMMITTEE. ALREADY EARNING VOTE. NOW IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT LAWMAKERS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS HAVE TRIED TO GET THIS BILL APPROVED AND IT HAS NEVER

The Florida House has voted to lower the age for purchasing a long gun from 21 to 18, a decision that comes nearly eight years after the Parkland school shooting prompted lawmakers to raise the age limit.Seventeen people were killed and 18 others injured in the Parkland school shooting, leading lawmakers to increase the minimum age for buying a long gun to 21.Marcus Jara from Fort Myers expressed concern over the proposed change, saying, “When you turn 21, you’re much older and more stable of a person. It’s just dangerous for 18-year-olds to have guns.”Despite these concerns, a majority of House lawmakers voted in favor of lowering the age. Jara added, “I think that is kind of crazy that they’re trying to lower to the age of 18.”The proposal follows Florida’s recent decision to legalize open carry. Joe Ferris from Cape Coral, who purchased weapons at 18, noted, “You have 18-year-olds that go to war and get shot too.”State Sen. Jonathan Martin acknowledged the bill’s uncertain future in the Senate, stating, “Many of the senators who are here were part of the vote in 2018 after the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, where this change in the law came about.” He also mentioned, “There is not a companion bill filed in the Senate, so it’s going to through the rules committee, which is a last stop, for any vote.”For the past three years, lawmakers have attempted to pass similar legislation, but it has yet to succeed in the Senate.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

The Florida House has voted to lower the age for purchasing a long gun from 21 to 18, a decision that comes nearly eight years after the Parkland school shooting prompted lawmakers to raise the age limit.

Seventeen people were killed and 18 others injured in the Parkland school shooting, leading lawmakers to increase the minimum age for buying a long gun to 21.

Marcus Jara from Fort Myers expressed concern over the proposed change, saying, “When you turn 21, you’re much older and more stable of a person. It’s just dangerous for 18-year-olds to have guns.”

Despite these concerns, a majority of House lawmakers voted in favor of lowering the age. Jara added, “I think that is kind of crazy that they’re trying to lower to the age of 18.”

The proposal follows Florida’s recent decision to legalize open carry. Joe Ferris from Cape Coral, who purchased weapons at 18, noted, “You have 18-year-olds that go to war and get shot too.”

State Sen. Jonathan Martin acknowledged the bill’s uncertain future in the Senate, stating, “Many of the senators who are here were part of the vote in 2018 after the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, where this change in the law came about.” He also mentioned, “There is not a companion bill filed in the Senate, so it’s going to through the rules committee, which is a last stop, for any vote.”

For the past three years, lawmakers have attempted to pass similar legislation, but it has yet to succeed in the Senate.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.