House and Senate Chambers to Take Up School and Gun Safety Measures

The Florida legislature has acted quickly to address gun policy and school safety in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. HB 7101 and SB 7026 both contain key changes that improve state law and help to ensure that a tragedy such as the one that occurred in Parkland on February 14 never occurs again. Key provisions of the bills include:

• Raising the age to purchase any firearm to 21
• Banning "bump stocks" that make many weapons automatic
• Increasing funding for mental health services
• Providing additional school resource officers and school hardening measures for public schools, such as metal detectors, bullet-proof glass, steel doors, and upgraded locks

The Senate will hold a rare Saturday floor session to begin debate on SB 7026 and will vote on the measure on Monday, March 5. The House will wait until the Senate acts on its proposal before taking up the issue.



In the video above, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, urges that resources also be made available to nonpublic schools.  All kids need to be safe in Florida.

The FCCB also supports a ban on assault weapons and recommends including such a prohibition in the final bill.

On February 26, Michael B. Sheedy, FCCB executive director, identified these two concerns in letters to Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran.

TAKE ACTION: Urge Support and Additional Provisions to HB 7101/SB 7026 to Protect All Schoolchildren
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.