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Oppose bills aimed to roll back bipartisan gun safety legislation put in place after the Parkland shooting

HB1223 and HB 17 are both scheduled for a FINAL HEARING in the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow, Wednesday February 21, starting at 8:00 am. Just one week after the 6th anniversary of the MSD shooting, Florida lawmakers are trying to roll back two life-saving laws that were passed (with strong bipartisan support!) in response to the massacre. If the bills pass out of committee tomorrow, they will go on to the full House for a vote as soon as next week.

HB 1223 would lower the age to purchase firearms to 18 from 21. Lowering the age to purchase guns in Florida law would allow 18-20-year-olds to purchase semi-automatic rifles, such as AR-15s and other assault weapons, and would also allow 18-20-year-olds to purchase handguns from unlicensed sellers--with no background check! This despite the fact that 18 to 20-year-olds commit gun homicides at triple the rate of adults 21 years and older.

HB 17 would remove the 3-day waiting period on all background checks, undoing another provision of the MSD act. This would allow firearm purchases to go forward if a background check is not completed in 3 days - even though background checks that take longer than 3 days to complete are 4 times more likely to be denied! This would put the Charleston loophole back into Florida law - so called because it's how the shooter at the Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston was able to get his weapon. Raising the purchase age to 21 and closing the Charleston loophole was good policy for public safety in 2018, and it remains good policy for public safety today.

The NRA is lobbying for both these bills.

We're urging every League member to hit the phones and flood the members of the committee with calls opposing these bills! Contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee and tell them to vote NO on House Bills 1223 and 17!

Florida House Judiciary Committee

Bulk email addresses separated with commas:

Tommy.Gregory [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Toby.Overdorf [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Randy.Maggard [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Michael.Gottlieb [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Thad.Altman [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Kristen.Arrington [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Webster.Barnaby [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Adam.Botana [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Lavon.Bracydavis [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Chuck.Brannan [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Ryan.Chamberlin [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Kevin.Chambliss [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Mike.Giallombardo [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Dianne.Hart [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Yvonne.Hinson [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Berny.Jacques [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Dotie.Joseph [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Patt.Maney [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Bobby.Payne [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Will.Robinson [at] myfloridahouse.gov, John.Snyder [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Paula.Stark [at] myfloridahouse.gov, Keith.Truenow [at] myfloridahouse.gov