TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – For many years, lawmakers have tried to overturn Florida law prohibiting individuals under the age of 21 from purchasing guns.
A Republican-led bill that is now moving forward through the Capitol can reduce the age required to buy firearms statewide.
If the measurement passes, Floridians over the age of 18 can purchase a long gun, such as a rifle.
House Bill 759 will stop committee stops inside the house and all will be discussed on the floor. However, for it to arrive at the governor’s desk, it will have to be moved in the Senate, and it is unclear whether that will cause this legislative session.
“It’s hard to discuss policies when there are so many emotions in the room. I think that happened many years ago when the original bill was passed.”
Following the 2018 Marjorie Stone Man Douglas High School massacre, Gov. Rickscott signed a package of gun safety measures, including a provision that raises the age of gun purchases from 18 to 21.
“In a few minutes, a 19-year-old stepped into my high school, killing 17 people and injuring another 17 people.
Rep. Salzman, sponsoring the bill, said she still feels strong to move forward with these efforts while respecting the criticism that follows the issue.
“This is true raw emotions. These are things that you can see them close their eyes and regenerate everything, perhaps even years later,” Senator Salzman said. “As I said on the committee, we are legislators, we need to remove emotions from the process and make the true logical choices that are best suited for our district and Floridians.”
Salzmann notes that passing this bill has been a priority for the House for years and that he is honored to be in charge of this session. She touts her relationship with lawmakers above the aisle and sympathy for the concerns surrounding the issue.
“I held a Serval event in my community. Pensacola has people living in the house with young children, single mothers, ages 18 and 19.
Salzmann supports many of the bill packages passed in 2018 in response to Parkland’s shooting, but adds that there is one issue: age limits for purchasing firearms.
Opposing the bill, Broward County Board of Education Chairman Debbie Hickson shared his connection to Parkland shooting.
“For me, this was poured into the open wounds, and the family asked me to come to Tallahassee here and do something about what happened very early on. “And now you want to abolish things, and for me it makes you feel like you’ve forgotten who my husband and the other 16 victims are,” Hixon said.
Even in public testimony, the bill was still passed, 16 Yeas-6 Nas.
Why is the Senate lacking traction?
Sen. Randy Fein (R-Brevard County) has filed similar laws and said he believes that the citizen’s second amendment rights will begin when you are an adult.
“Critics understand where they come from, but I think they have to ask themselves. If they don’t believe that an 18-year-old is an adult, they’re sure they’re willing to go ahead with that as a policy,” the senator said. “They are 18 and can’t own a gun, they shouldn’t vote, you shouldn’t be in the military, you should say you’re an adult or not.”
When asked about this particular bill, state Senate President Ben Albritton is hesitant to give a firm answer to gun laws.
“This is not easy. It’s not easy. I’m a lifelong member of the NRA. I carry at least one weapon almost every day. I have a hidden carry permit. Congress passes the permitted hidden carry, a constitutional carry.
Representative Salzmann said he will continue to refile the bill if not carried out through the 2025 legislative session, but she hopes she will start moving in the Senate.
“I think we’ll see this bill file every year until it passes,” Salzmann said. “It’s great to get it done, so we have to keep these families on this and come here and have these conversations and relive those nightmares.”
