Florida votes to arm teachers, rejects ban on assault weapons

  • 05/03/2018
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students watching the Florida Senate reject a ban on assault weapons.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students watching the Florida Senate reject a ban on assault weapons. Photo credit: Reuters

The Florida Senate has rejected a ban on assault weapons and voted to arm some teachers.

The decision comes just weeks after 14 students and three staff were killed in the deadliest high school shooting in US history.

The proposed amendment, attached to a larger Bill, would have banned assault weapons.

The amendment failed when it was outvoted 20 to 17 on Sunday. The Senate's 15 Democrats supported the amendment, as well as two Republicans.

Additionally, an amendment to remove a provision to train and arm some teachers failed.

The bill raises the minimum age to buy a rifle or shotgun from 18 to 21.

It also bans the use, sale, or possession of bump stocks, used to make semi-automatic weapons function as automatics. Bump stocks were used in October's shooting in Las Vegas where 58 people were killed.

The bill also includes $400 million in mental health funding for schools, according to the Miami Herald.

The full Bill, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, is set to pass in the state Senate on Tuesday.

Reuters