Two Democratic lawmakers are filing bills to curb gun violence in the Sunshine State following the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, said Thursday they would file bills to temporarily prevent people with a high risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms.
A 27-page proposal, HB 231 would allow families or household members to obtain a court order restricting people from obtaining weapons if they pose a “significant danger” to themselves or others.
Examples of a danger could include mental health crises or violent behavior, according to a press release sent Thursday.
If passed, the “protective order” would cancel out concealed carry permits and would prohibit filing a petition to lift the order with misleading or false statements.
Court orders are not intended to be permanent -- firearms would be returned to owners upon the termination of the protective order.
According to the bill, the aim of the legislation is to “reduce gun deaths and injuries while respecting constitutional rights.”
The Senate measure has yet to receive a bill number.
Berman and Gibson introduced the bill following a mass shooting in Las Vegas Sunday evening which left 59 dead and more than 500 injured. A motive for the shooting has not yet been discovered.
“It is critical to address senseless gun deaths that now seem to be more the norm than a rarity,” said Sen. Gibson Thursday. “This bill is designed to remove from harm’s way individuals who are at high risk of harming themselves or others through an act of gun violence.”
Rep. Berman said the legislation was spurred from the massacre in Las Vegas on Sunday which left 59 people dead and more than 500 injured.
“It is more important than ever that we address how to limit gun violence,” Berman said. “This bill provides a mechanism for family or household members and law enforcement to stop bad actors before tragedy happens.”
Gibson and Berman aren’t the only Florida lawmakers looking to curb gun violence through legislation.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Miami, said Thursday he plans to introduce legislation within the next day or two to ban bump stocks nationwide.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced a bill in the Senate Wednesday to ban bump stocks and similar devices, and it’s likely her bill and Curbelo’s will gather bipartisan support in the coming weeks.
Curbelo will cosponsor the bill with Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts.
Even the White House said it was open to considering restrictions on bump stocks moving forward.
“We always welcome a thoughtful conversation on policy and issues,” said White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Fox & Friends on Thursday. “The Second Amendment is a bedrock in our Constitution along with the First Amendment. These rights must be protected, but … I know this is something that many legislators have been telling us and I read publicly that they have never even heard of the device before. And they are in Congress. So, many of them are open to a conversation.”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
READ MORE FROM SUNSHINE STATE NEWS
Carlos Curbelo to Push Bipartisan Ban on Bump Stocks
Post-Las Vegas Massacre, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Renew Calls for Gun Control
