Florida

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Discusses Gun Control and School Safety Plan in Miami-Dade

Scott is scheduled to attend a news conference at the Miami-Dade Police Department Tuesday afternoon

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is in Miami Tuesday to highlight his plans to put more armed guards in schools and to make it harder for young adults and some with mental illness to buy guns in the wake of the Parkland school shooting.

Scott held a news conference at the Miami-Dade Police Department Tuesday afternoon to discuss the push to get his "major action plan" implemented.

"We have a little less than two weeks now to go in this legislative session, I put out a proposal on Friday, I'm going to work every day between now and the end of session to make sure that we pass legislation that will make our students safe," Scott said.

Joining him were the fathers of two of the victims, Meadow Pollack and Alaina Petty, who also pushed for the passage of Scott's plan.

"We talked about whether Alaina would want this legislation passed and I think we agree she would, this is maybe her last act of service," father Ryan Petty said.

Scott announced the plans last week that would put more armed guards in schools and to make it harder for young adults and some with mental illness to buy guns, responding to days of intense lobbying from survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 14.

While criticized by some as not going far enough, the measures are significant in a state that hasn't passed any type of gun control since Republicans took control of state government in 1999.

In addition to banning firearm sales to anyone under 21, the governor is calling for a trained law enforcement officer for every school — and one for every 1,000 students at larger schools — by the time the fall 2018 school year begins.

Stoneman Douglas, with more than 3,000 students, had one armed resource officer who never entered the building under attack while a gunman was shooting people inside, officials said.

Among other things, the governor's $500 million plan would create a "violent threat restraining order" that would let a court prohibit a violent or mentally ill person from purchasing or possessing a firearm or any other weapon under certain circumstances.

The proposal would also strengthen gun purchase and possession restrictions for mentally ill people under the state's Baker Act, which allows someone to be involuntarily hospitalized for up to 72 hours. Scott is seeking $50 million for initiatives that include expanding mental health services by providing counseling, crisis management and other mental health services for youth and young adults.

"No one with mental issues should have access to a gun. It is common sense," Scott said.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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