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The Florida House of Representatives approved a bill this Wednesday that lowers the minimum age to purchase rifles and shotguns from 21 to 18 years.
The measure sparks a strong political and social debate by attempting to reverse a law that was passed following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, where 17 people were killed.
The approved bill, identified as HB 759, was championed by Representative Michelle Salzman, a Republican from Cantonment, who advocated for the initiative as a necessary correction to ensure equal rights for all legal adults in the state.
"The House Bill 759 aims to rectify an inconsistency in our legal framework by ensuring that all adult citizens of Florida enjoy all the rights granted to them by the Second Amendment," he said in statements reported by local media.
Currently, the existing legislation in Florida prohibits the purchase of long guns by individuals under 21 years of age, a provision included in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, enacted with bipartisan support in 2018, following the Parkland massacre.
At that time, the then-Republican governor Rick Scott, along with leaders from both parties, supported the initiative as an effort to prevent future tragedies.
The current proposal, however, seeks to reduce that minimum age to 18 years, allowing young adults to legally purchase rifles and shotguns through licensed dealers.
Handguns will continue to be restricted for individuals under 21, in accordance with federal legislation.
Arguments in favor: Individual rights, legal consistency, and gun culture
The defenders of the project argue that the current law is inconsistent with other responsibilities that the state grants to citizens over 18 years old.
“From the ages of 18 to 20, you can be judged for crimes and sentenced to death. You can sign contracts. You can sue. You can be sued. You can get married and own property,” emphasized Salzman during the legislative debate.
Representative Dean Black, a Republican from Jacksonville and co-sponsor of the bill, added that the change aims to correct what he considers a deviation from the spirit of the Second Amendment: “Some time ago, this body, which intended to do good, took a wrong turn.”
Supporters also argue that the current restriction creates a legal loophole that allows individuals under 21 to possess firearms if they are acquired by their parents, which they claim renders the law symbolic and ineffective.
The Speaker of the House, Daniel Pérez, also a Republican, acknowledged that he voted in favor of the 2018 law, but now he supports lowering the age.
"I was present when the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas occurred, and it was a very emotional moment. I voted in favor of that bill; it was good and necessary. But I believe an 18-year-old should be able to purchase long guns. Many of these rifles are used for hunting, and at the same time, they can defend our country,” he said.
Governor Ron DeSantis has also expressed his support for the repeal of restrictions enacted after Parkland, including red flag laws and other limitations on gun carrying.
"These are issues that many of us have been discussing for a long time," he stated at the beginning of the 2025 legislative session.
Strong opposition: Family members of victims, gun control advocates, and Democratic legislators
The response from the opposition has been strong. Democratic lawmakers, advocates for safety, and family members of the Parkland shooting victims have condemned the bill as a setback that endangers lives.
"The law was signed with the blood of the victims' families," denounced representative Robin Bartleman, a Democrat from Weston and former member of the Broward County School Board.
“Please, do not undo the good that we have achieved and do not slap those families or the community by repealing this law,” she added.
One of the most moving testimonies has been that of Tom Hixon, the son of Chris Hixon, the athletic director of Douglas High School and a U.S. Marine veteran, who was killed in the shooting while trying to protect the students.
"Reducing the age to 18 after increasing it to 21 for the purchase of long guns is a mistake," Hixon stated.
"Now the lawmakers want to reverse the progress made in 2018 and allow 18-year-olds to possess firearms, increasing the risk of a repeat of the MSD shooting," he added.
Christine Hunschofsky, who was the mayor of Parkland during the massacre and is currently a Democratic lawmaker, is strongly opposed to the bill.
"The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act has been the gold standard, as evidenced by the fact that gun violence in Florida has decreased and we have not witnessed any school shootings in the state since then."
Judicial decision reaffirms the constitutionality of the restriction
In early March, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed the constitutional validity of the law prohibiting the sale of long guns to individuals under 21 years old.
In its ruling, the court concluded that the legislation "does not violate the Second and Fourteenth Amendments because it is consistent with our historical tradition of firearm regulation."
"The aim of these restrictions has been to prevent immature and impulsive individuals, like the Parkland shooter, from harming themselves and others with lethal weapons," the ruling stated.
This judicial decision was a setback for those advocating for the reduction of the age limit.
Despite the judicial backing of the current legislation, Florida's new Attorney General, James Uthmeier, stated on social media that he will not defend the law if the National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the original plaintiffs, decides to take the case to the United States Supreme Court.
An uncertain future in the Senate
Although the bill was approved by the House this Wednesday, its final fate is still in the hands of the Florida Senate.
Senator Jay Collins, a Republican from Tampa, introduced the corresponding version in the upper chamber under the name SB 920, but it has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing.
The president of the Senate, Ben Albritton, has taken an ambiguous stance.
“The most important thing I want to do is to do the right thing”, he declared. “Without a doubt, the most important thing I don’t want is to make a mistake. So I am thinking about how that could or could not be,” he added.
The legislative calendar and the will of the Senate leaders will be crucial in determining whether the project becomes law or gets shelved, as happened with similar initiatives in previous years.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Age Reduction for Purchasing Long Guns in Florida
What changes does the HB 759 bill in Florida propose regarding the age to purchase long guns?
The bill HB 759 aims to lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and shotguns from 21 to 18 years in Florida. This measure seeks to reverse a provision of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which was enacted following the Parkland massacre in 2018.
What are the arguments in favor of lowering the age to buy rifles in Florida?
The supporters of the bill HB 759 argue that the current age restriction is inconsistent with other legal responsibilities granted to citizens over 18 years old, such as signing contracts or being legally judged. They also assert that the restriction creates a legal loophole that allows individuals under 21 years of age to possess firearms if they are obtained by their parents.
What is the opposition's position regarding the HB 759 bill?
The opposition, which includes Democratic legislators, gun control advocates, and family members of the Parkland shooting victims, condemns the bill as a setback that endangers lives. They argue that the 2018 law was enacted to prevent tragedies and that its repeal could increase the risk of similar incidents.
What did the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rule regarding the age restriction for purchasing long guns?
The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of the law that prohibits the sale of long guns to individuals under 21 years of age, concluding that the legislation is consistent with the historical tradition of firearm regulation and aims to prevent immature and impulsive individuals from accessing lethal weapons.
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