TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House of Representatives voted 74-37 Thursday to roll back a part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas gun safety law and lower the age to buy a gun back to 18.
But its fate in the Senate remained up in the air.
There were South Florida representatives who delivered an emotional debate on why the change shouldn’t happen, but they did not sway the majority.
“They do feel like it doesn’t matter anymore. One of the (MSD) moms said to me, ‘We’re just another shooting now,’” Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, a Democrat and the former Parkland mayor, said.
Rep. Marie Woodson, D-Hollywood, said, “What message are we sending to those parents? What message are we sending to them?”
Despite the emotional pleas - the group March for Our Lives was among those in the gallery - the House, dominated by conservative Republicans from all over the state, say 18 year olds are adults with rights to choose, including the bill’s sponsor.
“First of all, there is no joy in this,” Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, said. “There is no joy in this.”
Some from South Florida were not in office eight years ago when the conservative legislature and then-governor passed a unanimous, bipartisan, unprecedented gun law with support from Parkland families.
“Voting up on this bill does not take away the important points, which we have put into law several measures to deal with the real issues as we see them,” Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, said.
Several South Florida Republicans, including Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, voted no.
“I respect the majority leader. He’s running the bill,” LaMarca said. “Having said that, I respect the constituents of my district more than anything.”
Besides all South Florida Democrats, also voting no were Rep. Hillary Cassel, R-Hollywood, and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach.
The bill needs a Senate companion and the last three times the House passed it, in the last three sessions, the Senate let it die simply by not filing a companion bill.
What will happen this time is a big question.
Local 10 News learned Thursday that behind the scenes, some of the South Florida representatives are vigorously lobbying their Senate counterparts to try and keep it that way.
Local 10 Digital Journalist Chris Gothner contributed to this report.
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