By a single vote, the Florida Senate on Monday approved a sweeping response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre that includes too little gun control and too much emphasis on transforming schools into armed fortresses. Republicans altered an unpopular plan to arm teachers to allow personnel such as principals, counselors and librarians — but not most teachers — to secretly carry guns. That is window dressing for what remains a dangerous plan to put more guns on campuses. Only law enforcement officers should carry guns in schools. The legislation has positive provisions such as raising the age to buy all guns to 21, more spending for mental health and added school security. Yet Douglas High survivors and families of the 17 victims — and most voters — do not want to arm teachers. They want to ban the sale of semiautomatic assault rifles and large magazines. The Senate placed guns above kids Saturday, rejecting a ban by a 20-17 vote (see roll call, below). The bill goes today to the House, which has refused to even debate a ban. Tell legislators they aren't listening to Floridians.
As Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, noted Monday, Democrats tried compromise after compromise and Republicans rejected every significant attempt to improve the legislation. The Republicans' arguments for arming school personnel and blocking bans on the sale of semiautomatic assault rifles would be comical if the stakes weren't so high:
• Asked Saturday whether the legislation would allow local sheriffs to arm school personnel with AR-15 assault rifles, Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said that would be up to individual sheriffs. Really?
• Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, opposed a ban on the sale of assault rifles by invoking Adolf Hitler, Fidel Castro and North Korea. So AR-15 assault rifles will be a deterrent to a nuclear attack?
• Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, claimed banning the sale of assault rifles would be similar to banning fertilizer because it was used in the Oklahoma City bombing or banning pressure cookers because they were used in the Boston Marathon bombing. Never mind that fertilizer and pressure cookers have legitimate, legal uses while the purpose of assault rifles is to kill people.
The Senate voted Saturday 20-17 to defeat a proposed ban on the sale of assault rifles, then immediately held a moment of silence to honor the Douglas High students and personnel who were killed by a shooter firing an AR-15 assault rifle. That says it all.
Tampa Bay senators
FOR GUNS
Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg
(850) 487-5024 • brandes.jeff@flsenate.gov
Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa
(850) 487-5020 • lee.tom@flsenate.gov
Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby
(850) 487-5010 • simpson.wilton@flsenate.gov
FOR KIDS
Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg
(850) 487-5019 • rouson.darryl@flsenate.gov
AWOL
Dana Young, R-Tampa
(850) 487-5018 • young.dana@flsenate.gov
Young was present during Saturday's session but skipped the roll call vote and later entered a "no" vote in the record.
The rest of Florida
FOR GUNS
Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala
(850) 487-5012 • baxley.dennis@flsenate.gov
Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach
(850) 487-5004 • bean.aaron@flsenate.gov
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Explore all your optionsLizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers
(850) 487-5027 • benacquisto.lizbeth@flsenate.gov
Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island
(850) 487-5005 • bradley.rob@flsenate.gov
Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze
(850) 487-5001 • broxson.doug@flsenate.gov
George Gainer, R-Panama City
(850) 487-5002 • gainer.george@flsenate.gov
Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton
(850) 487-5021 • galvano.bill@flsenate.gov
Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring
(850) 487-5026 • grimsley.denise@flsenate.gov
Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange
(850) 487-5014 • hukill.dorothy@flsenate.gov
Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast
(850) 487-5007 • hutson.travis@flsenate.gov
Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach
(850) 487-5017 • mayfield.debbie@flsenate.gov
Joe Negron, R-Stuart
(850) 487-5025 • negron.joe@flsenate.gov
Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples
(850) 487-5028 • passidomo.kathleen@flsenate.gov
Keith Perry, R-Gainesville
(850) 487-5008 • perry.keith@flsenate.gov
David Simmons, R-Longwood
(850) 487-5009 • simmons.david@flsenate.gov
Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland
(850) 487-5022 • stargel.kelli@flsenate.gov
Greg Steube, R-Sarasota
(850) 487-5023 • steube.greg@flsenate.gov
FOR KIDS
Lauren Book, D-Plantation
(850) 487-5032 • book.lauren@flsenate.gov
Randolph Bracy, D-Ocoee
(850) 487-5011 • bracy.randolph@flsenate.gov
Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens
(850) 487-5035 • braynon.oscar@flsenate.gov
Daphne Campbell, D-North Miami Beach
(850) 487-5038 • campbell.daphne@flsenate.gov
Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale
(850) 487-5034 • farmer.gary@flsenate.gov
Anitere Flores, R-Miami
(850) 487-5039 • flores.anitere@flsenate.gov
Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah
(850) 487-5036 • garcia.rene@flsenate.gov
Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville
(850) 487-5006 • gibson.audrey@flsenate.gov
Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee
(850) 487-5003 • montford.bill@flsenate.gov
Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach
(850) 487-5030 • powell.bobby@flsenate.gov
Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach
(850) 487-5029 • rader.kevin@flsenate.gov
Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami
(850) 487-5037 • rodriguez.jose@flsenate.gov
Linda Stewart, D-Orlando
(850) 487-5013 • stewart.linda@flsenate.gov
Annette Taddeo, D-Miami
(850) 487-5040 • taddeo.annette@flsenate.gov
Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale
(850) 487-5033 • thurston.perry@flsenate.gov
Victor Torres, D-Orlando
(850) 487-5015 • torres.victor@flsenate.gov