Inside Gov. Scott's School & State Safety Reform (Pt 1)

On Friday Governor Scott unveiled a comprehensive plan to reform school safety, the mental health system and gun control. My initial takeaway was a bit of surprise regarding how detailed, considered and extensive it was for such a short window of time (one full week) in the wake of the Parkland shooting. My goal in this two-part story is to evaluate the major proposals and apply the best public sentiment to them that's available. So, here's a rundown of the major proposals. 

Gun control: 

  • People under 21 will be banned from buying or possessing firearms (excluding military & law enforcement) 

  • Ban on bump stocks  

  • Violent Threat Restraining Order - New program which empowers courts to be the arbiters of whether one is of sound mind for the purpose of possessing or buying firearms - with a minimum 60 day waiting period after any official sworn statement provided by law enforcement or person know by the individual in question 

Mental health:  

  • The violent Threat Restraining Order program is ultimately a mental health initiative that segs essentially within Florida's "Baker Act". The primary differences being that unlike current law in which one's free to possess and purchase after being cleared from a Baker Act detention - one would have to have rights to own and possess reinstated by the courts with a minimum stay of 60 days 

  • Increase in mental health councilors in schools throughout the state 

School Safety:  

  • $500 million in increased funding for school security initiatives statewide 

  • Mandatory law enforcement on campus - 1 officer per 1,000 students effective at the beginning of the new school year 

  • Revised code for physical school security including bullet proof glass, metal detectors, improved locking mechanisms for access doors 

  • Mandatory active shooter drills effective with the beginning of the new school year 

General safety:  

  • State run "See something, say something" program - Would allow the state, to coordinate information independent of relying on federal authorities. Would include a 24/7 maintained hotline, app & website in which all Floridians could have ease of access to report concerns and to be informed about potential threats 

Notably, absent from this proposal - the governor isn't proposing or exploring the potential for qualified educators to be able to carry on campus and he also isn't calling on a ban for AR's. In part two we'll explore the political considerations of these proposals. 


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