![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SN_BANNER_APP-LIVE-STREAM_GIF_30968_SC_v02D-1.gif\")
<\/a>\nU.S. attorney general discusses political violence after event in Tampa<\/p>\n
Israelis on Monday celebrated the return of the last surviving hostages from Gaza \u2014 a defining exchange in the fragile ceasefire that has paused two years of war between Israel and Hamas.<\/p>\n
As Palestinians awaited prisoner releases, world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, were arriving in the Middle East to discuss postwar plans, while aid was expected to flow into famine-stricken Gaza.<\/p>\n
Members of the Florida congressional delegation are reacting to the release of Israeli hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza. Although Republicans and Democrats are united in applauding the developments, some Republicans are highlighting Trump’s role.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first time in over two years, Hamas holds NO living hostages,”\u00a0Rep. John Rutherford said in a post on social media. “This is a major, historic win for the Trump administration, and is an accomplishment that no one else could have delivered. Promises made, promises kept.”<\/p>\n
Republican Rep. Mike Haridopolos also celebrated the president\u2019s \u201cleadership and relentless diplomacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter two agonizing years, all of the living Israeli hostages have been BROUGHT HOME! Thanks to President Trump\u2019s leadership and relentless diplomacy, families can finally welcome their loved ones home,\u201d Haridopolos said in a social post.<\/p>\n
As part of the deal, Israel released roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. But not all of the remains of the deceased hostages have been returned to Israel yet.<\/p>\n
In addition, Florida Democrats hope the current track for peace in the region will last.<\/p>\n
\u201cA weight has been lifted off the world as the remaining hostages are released. Amazing day for the families, and for @POTUS and all the negotiators who made this day possible. Let\u2019s honor their return by staying committed to lasting peace so another October 7 never happens again,\u201d Rep. Jared Moskowitz posted.<\/p>\n
Rep. Darren Soto called for aid for Palestinians in need, as well as a \u201clasting peace\u201d in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrateful that the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages are finally free. Today, their families will rejoice! We also remember those who died before this day by Hamas\u2019 terrorist attack. We must ensure this ceasefire holds, that aid is surged to help Palestinians in need, and build upon it for lasting peace between Israel and Gaza,\u201d Soto said in social media post.<\/p>\n
Some Florida Republicans also cheered on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former U.S. senator from Florida who traveled alongside Trump Monday and helped broker the deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur community in South Florida is incredibly proud of the brilliant work coming from @SecRubio. World leaders recognize his leadership, and Secretary Rubio truly understands every corner of the world,\u201d Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart said in a social post.<\/p>\n
Roughly 200 U.S. troops have been stationed in Israel to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida lawmakers to take up proposal to lower the age to purchase long guns<\/p>\n
Firearms are shaping up to be a major issue in Florida\u2019s upcoming legislative session.<\/p>\n
For the fourth straight year, lawmakers appear ready to revisit a proposal to lower the buying age for long guns from 21 to 18.<\/p>\n
A court ruling last month struck down the state\u2019s open carry ban as unconstitutional, making the potential decision on gun policy both highly visible and potentially far-reaching.<\/p>\n
Florida Republicans say they\u2019re determined to uphold the Second Amendment, especially as the state enters a new era for gun ownership.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to protect the Second Amendment at all costs,”\u00a0State Rep. Sam Garrison said. “We will protect your right to bear arms. We also believe very strongly in public safety and keeping our schools in particular.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That promise could include House Bill 133. If approved, the bill would lower the buying age to 18 for long guns like rifles, shotguns and more.<\/p>\n
Florida lawmakers raised the purchase age to 21 after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, something that was endorsed by then-Gov. Rick Scott.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that many wanted more gun control than what is included in this bill,” Scott said at the time. “And I know that many believe this bill has too much gun control. I respect the sincerity and validity of both those viewpoints.”<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Democrats are warning about the implications of more long guns in public.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think about parents playing with their kids at the park, and they\u2019re worried someone might stroll up carrying an AR-15,” State Rep. Fentrice Driskell said. “These are politically sensitive and heated times, and it\u2019d be better to cool the temperature down.\u201d<\/p>\n
There have also been calls for Republicans to clarify the rules around open carry, saying the law lacks uniformity statewide.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s sad, but the issues tied to the Second Amendment have become so political and so polarizing that even small tweaks to current law may prove challenging,\u201d State Rep. Anna Eskamani said.<\/p>\n
The House passed the measure to lower the purchase age for long guns last year, but the bill failed to advance in the Senate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Florida lawmakers react to the ceasefire in Israel, and a bill being considered in Tallahassee could lower the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1554,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2198,2202,2205,28,30,29,2197,2200,2204,2203,115,139,2206,2199,2201,275,135,2032,835,2196],"class_list":["post-1553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-app-political-connections","tag-asher-wildman","tag-associated-press","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news","tag-holly-gregory","tag-instagram-bn9","tag-instagram-n13","tag-jason-delgado","tag-news","tag-orlando","tag-political-connections","tag-political-connections-full-episode-ctv","tag-political-connections-in-line-video-player","tag-spectrum-news-staff","tag-tampa","tag-trending-topics","tag-vod","tag-ybeth-bruzual"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1553\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}