Here’s the lowdown on Florida Governor’s new plan to combat school shootings…

Governor Scott in Florida just released a plan to combat school shootings and keep firearms out of the hands of mentally ill or dangerous people.

Here’s the lowdown:

CNN – A week after one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern US history, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced a comprehensive plan to keep students safe in his state…

— “Create the ‘Violent Threat Restraining Order,’ which will allow a court to prohibit a violent or mentally ill person from purchasing or possessing a firearm or any other weapon when either a family member, community welfare expert or law enforcement officer files a sworn request and presents evidence to the court of a threat of violence involving firearms or other weapons.

— “Strengthen gun purchase and possession restrictions for mentally ill individuals under the Baker Act. If a court involuntarily commits someone for treatment under the Baker Act because they are at risk of harming themselves or others, an individual would be required to surrender all firearms and not regain their right to purchase or possess a firearm until a court hearing. A minimum 60-day period would be established before individuals can ask a court to restore access to firearms.

— “Prohibit a person from possessing or purchasing a firearm if they are subject to an injunction for protection against stalking, cyberstalking, dating violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, or domestic violence;

— “Establish enhanced criminal penalties for threats to schools, such as social media threats of shootings or bombings, and enhance penalties if any person possesses or purchases a gun after they have been deemed by state law to not have access to a gun;

— Exceptions on the age for firearms purchasing include active duty and reserve military and spouses, National Guard members, and law enforcement.

Unlike Trump, Scott feels we shouldn’t be arming teachers. Rather, he believes we should let law enforcement do their job to protect schools:

Scott proposed a $450 million initiative for student safety, calling for the presence of a resource officer in every public school and giving sheriffs’ departments the power “to train additional school personnel or reserve law enforcement officers” if local school boards ask.

The plan requires “mandatory active shooter training” and says faculty and students must be involved in “active shooter drills.” It calls for an increase in funding for safe school infrastructure, such as metal detectors, steel doors and upgraded locks.

He also released mental health initiatives:

The plan outlines a $50 million allocation for mental health initiatives, including the expansion of mental health service teams, a Department of Children and Families case manager embedded in every sheriff’s department, and matching grants for sheriff’s offices to set up special law enforcement teams to work with DCF case managers.

I believe this is the bulk of his plan. If anything else comes out on this that’s different, I’ll let you know.


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