State Leaders Respond to Parkland High School Tragedy

A week after the deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, several thousand people rallied outside the Capitol in Tallahassee on Wednesday, February 21. Survivors, families, local students and gun-control advocates called on state lawmakers to enact stricter gun laws. On the same day, about 100 students from Parkland met in person with legislators and state leaders, including Governor Rick Scott, House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron, to press for immediate action on gun reform and school-safety measures to prevent another tragedy.

Earlier this week, at Governor Scott's direction, a series of workshops were held with law enforcement, education leaders, mental health experts and state agency officials. The governor held a news conference Friday morning to announce his action plan to help keep Florida students safe. He broke his plan into three sections: gun laws, school safety, and mental health. Among the provisions in the plan are a requirement that all individuals purchasing firearms must be 21 or older; a ban on the purchase or sale of bump stocks; a mandatory law enforcement officer in every public school; increased funding for school hardening measures such as metal detectors, bullet-proof glass, steel doors, and upgraded locks; and prohibitions on the purchase or possession of a gun by individuals with mental illness who are a danger to themselves or others.

Leaders of the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives also announced a comprehensive package of legislation to improve the safety and security of Florida students and schools. Described as a bipartisan effort, the provisions of the proposal were similar to those in the governor's plan.

The Catholic Church has been a consistent voice for the prevention of gun and other forms of violence that strike at the life and dignity of persons and a strong advocate for the reasonable regulation of firearms. A 2016 document from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urges support for policy and legislative measures that, among other reforms, require universal background checks for all gun purchases; limit civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines; and improve access to mental health care for those who may be prone to violence.