Is this the year Florida restores the rights of 18-year-olds to purchase long guns?

by Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
March 12, 2025

A proposal to lower the age for individuals in Florida to purchase shotguns and rifles from 21 to 18 advanced in its first hearing before a House committee in the 2025 session on Wednesday.

The bill also would allow someone 18 years old or older to purchase a handgun from a private seller. (Federal law prohibits anyone under 21 from purchasing a handgun from a federal firearms licensee).

Similar legislation — which would remove a key provision of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act — has passed in the Florida House in the past two legislative sessions, but has been blocked in the Senate.

But the mood in Tallahassee when it comes to this particular law is different this year, as the new leadership in the GOP-controlled Legislature has expressed more interest in supporting a repeal of the law.  Gov. Ron DeSantis has been outspoken in wanting to see the prohibition eliminated.

This year’s bill (HB 759) is sponsored by Republicans Michelle Salzman from the Panhandle and Tyler Sirois from Brevard County. As an indication of its strength in the House, it’s co-sponsored by eight additional Republicans and has been assigned to just one other committee before it could make its way to the full chamber for a floor vote.

As has often been the case with the law passed just weeks after 17 people were shot and killed in Parkland, testimony from members of the public and lawmakers was charged with strong feelings.

“Here we are yet again, as concerned members in the community, begging this committee to not pass this bill,” said Andres Cubillos, a graduate student attending Florida State University and member of FSU Students Demand Action. “To some of you, and to some of the people from our community, [the incident at] Marjory Stoneman Douglas was one of the worst days in Florida’s history.”

Tampa Democratic Rep. Dianne Hart said the measure was a “slap in the face” to the families who suffered through the Parkland shooting. “We say brains are not developed until you’re 25, but we want to hand 18-year-olds long guns,” she said. “Guns of any kind. Are we not following statistics to see what’s happening with guns? It’s almost as if though we don’t know that these guns are dangerous.”

Second Amendment

Advocates for the repeal, however, argued the law violates the Second Amendment and that it doesn’t make sense to prohibit 18-year-olds from purchasing guns.

“As a father, I want my daughter to be armed when she’s under the age of 21 and she’s living outside of my house and she’s able to protect herself, because right now this [law] disarms women, disarms our college students, and disarms our children,” said Luis Valdes, Florida state president of Gun Owners of America.

“We are messing with the bill of rights, and that’s why we’re having these problems,” added Lake County Republican Taylor Yarkosky.

Responding to criticisms about the maturity of individuals under 21, Rep. Salzman said this cohort is already legally allowed to perform significant responsibilities, such as voting, serving on juries, and enlisting in the armed forces.

South Florida Democratic Rep. Kelly Skidmore, who like every other Democrat on the committee voted against the measure, said she wouldn’t have a problem allowing 18-year-olds to purchase firearms if they have been trained properly.

“I admit, we send 18-,19-, 20-year-olds off to war,” she said. “They’re in the military, where they are trained to use a weapon of destruction. If you’re going to have something as powerful as a gun, in my mind, why wouldn’t we want to teach you how to use it?”

House Speaker Daniel Perez told reporters last week that he was receptive to returning the eligibility age to purchase a long gun to 18 years, while Senate President Ben Albritton said on Wednesday that he was continuing to take a “very cautious approach” to the proposal.

That’s a different stance than former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo took over the past two years, to the extent that no such companion measure was even filed in the Senate last year.

That’s not the case this time around, as a companion measure has already been filed in the Senate by Hillsborough County Republican Jay Collins (SB 920).

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.

The post Is this the year Florida restores the rights of 18-year-olds to purchase long guns? appeared first on floridaphoenix.com

SUMMARY: Osceola County Sheriff Lopez announced a significant fentanyl drug bust, dubbed “Operation My Brother’s Keeper,” resulting in the arrest of 26 individuals involved in a substantial drug trafficking operation. The investigation, which began with small undercover purchases from two brothers, uncovered a network distributing drugs across Osceola and Orange Counties. Over 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, along with cocaine, cash, and firearms, were seized. Many arrested face minimum mandatory prison sentences, with one linked to illegal immigration and has a deportation order. This operation highlights ongoing efforts to tackle drug-related crime and its devastating impact on communities.

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office holds press conference. Largest fentanyl bust in Osceola County, 26 People Arrested. Set to begin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12.

#Live #news #osceola #orlando

Subscribe to FOX 35 Orlando: https://bit.ly/3uRa5Vt
Watch FOX 35 Orlando LIVE newscasts: https://www.FOX35Orlando.com/live
Download FOX 35 news & weather apps: https://www.fox35orlando.com/apps

FOX 35 Orlando delivers breaking news, live events and press conferences, investigations, politics, entertainment, business news and local news stories and updates from Orlando, Orlando metro, and across Florida.

Watch more from FOX 35 on YouTube
Newest videos: https://www.youtube.com/myfoxorlando/videos
Most viewed/viral videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgNn6rfByAM&list=PLzmRitN2dDZvlKw0C1IH3nLFGlbqgvp5C
We Love Florida: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzmRitN2dDZuWecugac4QebPGp5-HZ5XP
Central Florida’s True Crime Files: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAxwHLIeahA&list=PLzmRitN2dDZvk9zWypuHs9n38zuwnUSpx

More news stories: http://www.FOX35Orlando.com
Watch FOX 35 News live: https://fox35orlando.com/live
FOX 35 News newsletter: https://www.fox35orlando.com/email

Follow FOX 35 Orlando on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOX35Orlando
Follow FOX 35 Orlando on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fox35orlando
Follow FOX 35 Orlando on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox35orlando

Source

SUMMARY: The University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Tampa are among 60 colleges receiving letters from the Department of Education over antisemitic discrimination complaints. USF’s investigation follows pro-Palestinian protests, prompting updated policies on discrimination and protest guidelines for Fall 2024. USF reaffirmed its commitment to combating antisemitism and providing a safe environment. The University of Tampa’s letter concerns a September 2023 student incident, resolved through the student conduct process. Both universities condemned hate and discrimination, with USF participating in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative to address antisemitism. Two groups have shown interest in buying the Tampa Bay Rays.

Read the full article

The post USF, UTampa among colleges under investigation for antisemitic complaints appeared first on www.abcactionnews.com