Florida Considers Lowering Rifle Purchase Age to 18

In a move that has sparked significant controversy, Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles from 21 to 18. This legislative proposal comes amidst a backdrop of heated debates over gun control and public safety in the state.

The bill, if passed, would reverse a decision made in the wake of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, where 17 people were tragically killed. In response to that incident, Florida raised the minimum age for rifle purchases from 18 to 21 as part of a broader set of gun control measures. Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been a vocal supporter of Second Amendment rights, has indicated he might sign the bill into law, arguing that young adults should not be denied their constitutional rights.

Critics of the bill, including gun control advocates and survivors of the Parkland shooting, argue that lowering the age limit would increase the risk of gun violence, especially in schools. They point out that the Parkland shooter was 19 years old at the time of the attack, an age that would have allowed him to legally purchase a rifle under the proposed law.

The debate in Florida mirrors a national conversation about gun rights versus gun control, with states across the U.S. grappling with similar issues. As the bill moves through the legislative process, it will continue to be a focal point of contention and discussion among Floridians and beyond.

• Florida
• Parkland
• Ron DeSantis

Detailed

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- tampabay