This past week on March 26, 2024, Florida lawmakers passed House Bill HB 759, a bill that lowers the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 21 back down to 18. This decision has come just about 6 years after the state changed its purchasing age to 21 in response to the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in Parkland FL, which left 17 students and staff members dead. The shooter who was 19, was able to purchase an AR-15 assault rifle legally. Now a new question is being proposed by both supporters and opponents alike, are we headed in the right direction?
Supporters of the bill argue that the current law unfairly restricts young adults from exercising their Second Amendment rights. “The ability to purchase and utilize a firearm is your constitutional right, and reinstating those rights is the right thing to do for Floridians,” Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Escambia County), who sponsored the bill, said.
“We must stop infringing on the constitutional rights of law-abiding adults who are old enough to serve in our military and make other significant life decisions.” she continued.
Gun rights advocates have echoed this sentiment, claiming that the 21-year-old requirement was an unnecessary restriction on constitutional freedoms.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other pro-gun organizations have long argued that the law disproportionately affects young adults who wish to purchase firearms for self-defense or sport shooting.
On the opposing end, the bill has faced significant opposition and criticism from gun violence prevention groups such as Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, who believe that lowering the age back to 18 could potentially lead to more tragedies.
“Let’s not mince words, this is a slap in the face to anyone whose life was forever changed after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland. This is a slap in the face to gun survivors across our state, period,” said Katie Hathaway, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action.
These organizations argue that at 18, most people lack the maturity to handle such dangerous weapons properly, believing that this decision endangers all communities across the state of Florida.
Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Motlow has also weighed in on the debate, expressing concern about the potential impact of the bill. “In Tallahassee, we continue to struggle with gun violence in our communities, and as we put more guns on the streets, we realize that may only make things worse, so it feels like we are going in the wrong direction,” Motlow stated.
Now that HB 759 has been signed into law, the debate over its potential effects continues. Supporters see it as a restoration of rights, while opponents warn of potential dangers that could arise from younger individuals gaining access to firearms. With both sides standing firm, the question remains: Is Florida moving forward or backward? The effects of this legislation will be closely watched in the coming months and years, as the state grapples with the consequences of its decision.