Bill Removing Post-Parkland Age Restrictions Passes Florida House Committee

In the wake of Parkland, Florida did something stupid.

They were already more restrictive than most other pro-gun states, but then they passed red flag laws and banned long-gun sales to any adult under 21.

Overnight, legal adults were prohibited from really exercising their right to keep and bear arms. It was morally wrong on all levels, and it gave the anti-gun side an opening they should never have been provided.

Luckily, Florida came to its senses quickly enough. They didn’t pass a pile more gun control, thankfully, but the damage was done.

Now, a bill seeking to undo some of that damage has made a major leap forward.

Legislation that could roll back age restrictions on gun purchases put in place after the Parkland shooting cleared its first House committee.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee advanced a bill (HB 759) that would reduce the age limit to buy firearms from 21 to 18. That follows a call from Gov. Ron DeSantis to roll back restrictions signed by his predecessor, former Gov. Rick Scott, in the wake of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“At 18 to 20 years old, you can be tried for crimes and sentenced to death. You can sign contracts, can sue and be sued,” said Rep. Michelle Salzman, a Pensacola Republican.

“You can get married and you can own property. House Bill 759 rectifies an inconsistency in our legal framework by ensuring that all adult citizens in Florida are afforded their full second amendment rights by lowering the minimum age for firearm purchases to 18. We acknowledge the responsibilities and rights that come with adulthood.”

The bill passed on a 13-5 vote. It now heads to the House Judiciary Committee.

This isn’t the first effort to repeal this law. In fact, this is the third year, and it should have been passed several years before that.

The truth is that this was a knee-jerk reaction to Parkland that completely ignored the fact that the killer in that incident had a long history of domestic violence against his own mother that the Broward County Sheriff’s Department did absolutely nothing about. Just one arrest, which likely would have led to a conviction, would have prevented him from ever buying a gun.

They dropped the ball and now every legal adult under 21 is paying the price.

Of course, some who support the law are making their own arguments against the repeal.

Democrats on the committee criticized House Republicans taking up a rollback of restrictions for the third year in a row. Rep. Dianne Hart, a Tampa Democrat, said gun violence remains a problem in too many Florida schools.

“18-year-olds don’t need guns,” she said. “We don’t let them drink alcohol for a reason: because they’re not ready.”

Then why can they vote?

Why can they enlist in the military where they’ll potentially be responsible for weapon systems far deadlier than an AR-15?

Why are they allowed to marry?

Why do we treat them like adults in any way at all?

Seriously, the drinking age argument doesn’t swing with me because I think that’s stupid, too. If you’re old enough to die for your country, you’re old enough to get rip-roaring drunk the night before you ship out to do so.

The truth is that this needs to happen and I hope Florida steps forward and does what it should have done a while back.