'Guns in school' bills move ahead despite protests
TALLAHASSEE – Lawmakers are shooting for looser restrictions on firearms – and so far, their bills are finding favor in the capital despite opposition from campus groups.
A shooting at Florida State University in November prompted legislators to file bills to allow concealed firearms on the state's college and university campuses. Many lawmakers believe that those permitted to have concealed weapons could form a first line of defense against future would-be spree shooters. The bill has already passed its first committees in the House and Senate.
Another bill would allow a school superintendent, with a school board's permission, to appoint public school staffers who would be allowed to carry concealed weapons in case a shooter came on campus. That law would apply to facilities from preschools to high schools. Still in its first committees, it appears to have enough support to move on.
A third bill would create a school safety trust fund. Money from sales tax on guns and ammunition would go into the fund, which would then be used to finance safety measures. But the bill also would let a person illegally carrying a gun in a school zone to turn it in without facing criminal penalties. It has not yet had a committee hearing.
"My health and well being should be the number one priority of my school," said Natalia Perez Santos, who went to high school at the College Academy at Broward College before heading to the University of Florida. "Yet, the Florida Legislature is disregarding our trust and throwing out my personal protection from gun violence for a couple of brownie points from the gun lobby."
http://touch.sun-sentinel.com/#section/1099/article/p2p-83014077/
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Just what we need in this state: More guns! More Zimmermans! More Fatalities!
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