Florida Gov. Rick Scott Introduces ‘Major Action Plan’ in Response to Shooting

Scott's plan has three categories: gun laws, school safety and mental health.

By Liberty McArtor Published on February 23, 2018

Florida Gov. Rick Scott introduced a massive plan Friday to better protect schools and communities from gun violence. He issued it nine days after a shooter killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School in Parkland, Florida.

The Republican governor’s plan has three categories: gun laws, school safety, and mental health. “We must get this done in the next two weeks,” he declared. He’ll be working “aggressively” with Florida’s legislature.

Before delving into the details, Scott read the names of Parkland’s 17 slain. “Unfortunately, none of the plans I’m announcing today will bring any of them back,” he said. “But it’s important to remember them.” He acknowledged their deaths had “changed our state forever.”

Scott said his “major action plan” was a result of spending nearly every day since the shooting listening to parents and students. He also acknowledged the “brave” students who traveled to the state capital this week demanding action.

“It’s important to listen to all viewpoints,” Scott said. He encouraged Floridians to continue listening to each other.

The Plan: Guns

Scott first outlined his proposals for new gun laws. He said he wants to make it “virtually impossible” for people with mental illness or who are considered a threat to use a gun.

Included in this category is a violent threat restraining order program. The proposed program allows people to file a sworn request and provide evidence that a violent or mentally ill person should not own or buy a weapon. People able to file a request include family, community welfare experts or law enforcement. The plan will provide “speedy due process” for the accused. It will also provide penalties for fraudulent sworn statements.

Scott listed warning signs that should have prevented the Parkland shooter from owning weapons. According to close acquaintances, the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, had a long track record of disturbing behavior.

People called law enforcement to his home 39 times in seven years. His classmates believed he was a potential school shooter. Worried people sent tips about his threatening behavior to the FBI and the local sheriff’s department. Neither the FBI or sheriff’s department investigated properly.

The state’s Baker Act lets the state involuntarily institutionalize mentally ill individuals. Scott wants to strengthen the act to keep such individuals from buying or possessing a firearm until a later hearing.

Other Prohibitions

Scott proposed that anyone subject to an injunction for stalking or violence be prohibited from buying or possessing a gun. He called for enhanced penalties for those who make threats, such as school bombing or shooting threats.

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The governor also demanded that only those 21 or older could buy firearms in Florida. The sale and purchase of bump stocks would be banned, he added. Last October, the shooter who killed 58 people at a Las Vegas music festival used bump stocks on his rifles. The bump stock modifies semi-automatic rifles to mimic automatic fire.

What of those calling for a ban on guns or revoking of Second Amendment rights? Scott said that “is not the answer.” He knows not everyone agrees with him.

The Plan: School Safety

Scott said $450 million would be provided to implement the second part of his plan. It includes placing at least one law enforcement officer for every 1,000 students in every public school. Sheriff’s departments could also train other school personnel upon school board request.

Additionally, schools must complete active shooter training by the first week of each semester. Funding for other safety measures, like metal detectors and bullet proof glass, would be increased, Scott said.

He called for a mental health professional in every school, to serve as a counselor. Those counselors would not have to split their time between other roles.

Scott also proposed a hotline, app and website for students to “see something, say something.” He said a threat assessment team would meet monthly in every school. The plan requires crisis intervention training for school personnel.

The Plan: Mental Health

Scott said he wanted $50 million in additional funding for mental health initiatives. These include counseling and crisis management. He laid out some details, including a mandate that all sheriff’s offices have a crisis welfare worker in house.

The governor acknowledged that some might claim he was stigmatizing the mentally ill. He said he rejected that. He understands the struggle because of a family member with mental issues.

“What I am saying is that no one with mental issues should have access to a gun,” he said. “It’s common sense. It is their own best interest, not to mention the interest of our communities.”

“We Can’t Trust the Federal Process”

Democrats and Republicans have long bickered over gun issues. The week-and-a-half since the Parkland shooting has been no different. Scott said he believed the state was ready to rally around a “common sense set of actions.”

Sen. Marco Rubio praised Scott’s “excellent common sense plan” in a tweet.

President Donald Trump will agree with many of Scott’s proposals, judging by hisrecent statements. After meeting with school shooting survivors at the White House this week, he supported banning bump stocks, raising the rifle purchasing age to 21, improving mental health programs, strengthening background checks for gun purchases and increasing school security.

Trump wants to arm trained teachers. Scott noted that “my focus is on providing more law enforcement officers, not on arming the teachers.” His plan does allow teachers to receive training from sheriff’s departments upon a school boards’ request.

In a meeting with state and local officials on Thursday, Trump noted that states could implement a lot of changes “on their own.” On Friday, Scott said “it’s obvious we can’t trust the federal process.” He referenced the failure of the FBI to act on credible tips about the Parkland shooter.

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