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New push to repeal post-Parkland gun laws
Republican State Rep. Dr. Joel Rudman filed a bill to end open carry and red flag laws, while State Sen. Randy Fine filed the bill looking to lower the age to buy a rifle from 21 back to 18. Both lawmakers are running for Congress.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Two bills recently filed in Tallahassee could repeal gun laws that went into effect after the Parkland school shooting.
Republican State Rep. Dr. Joel Rudman, who’s running to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress, filed a bill that would allow open carry of firearms. It would also end Florida’s red flag law that, since the Parkland reforms, allows friends, family, or law enforcement to ask a judge to take guns away from those deemed a threat to themselves or others.
Dr. Rudman wrote on social media that the bill "reiterates my commitment to freedom and to the Constitution. My bill repeals Florida’s unconstitutional red flag laws and makes Florida an open carry state."
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Republican State Sen. Randy Fine, who is also running for Congress, filed a bill looking to lower the age to buy a rifle from 21 to 18. A state law went into effect after the Parkland school shooting that raised the age from 18 to 21.
Senator Fine said if, at 18, you can enlist in the military and are "entrusted with a rifle to defend our country, I believe that if you can use a rifle to protect our nation, you should also be able to purchase one."
"When I voted for the Parkland bill in 2018, I did so despite my objections to this," Sen. Fine said. "If you're an adult at 18, then you should be an adult at 18. If people have an issue with that, they should file legislation to change the age of adulthood."
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Most Democrats are against the bills, with several saying they want to tighten gun laws.
"This is a bad and dangerous policy," Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani said about Sen. Fine’s bill.
"There is a reason why the legislature has opposed changing it back to 18. I have no doubt that Mr. Fine, because he is running for Congress, is trying to set himself to stand out with his conservative colleagues," Eskamani said.
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There have been similar bills in the past that haven’t passed. One similar to Sen. Fine’s had approval in the Florida House earlier this year, but didn’t pass. Florida Senate President Ben Albritton said he doesn’t think this year will be different.
The next legislative session starts in March.
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