Florida lawmakers have approved a bill allowing teachers to carry guns inside classrooms. The bill ensures the safety of students by arming teachers who are willing to carry firearms inside schools.
Last week the same lawmakers refused to approve a bill that banned semi-automatic “assault” weapons like the AR-15 used by the Parkland school shooter.
The legislation was part of a package of bills created in the aftermath of the school massacre on Valentine’s Day.
In addition to allowing guns in classrooms, Florida’s Senate Rules Committee agreed to raise the legal age for purchasing firearms to 21.
The senators also agreed to confiscate weapons from people with mental health issues.
The Florida House Rules Committee will take up a similar package of bills in Tallahassee on Tuesday.
The new legislation concerned parents of boys who might challenge trigger-happy teachers.
“It bothers me to think as a father of two young boys to tell them to not be aggressive to your teacher,” said Sen. Oscar Branynon.
Branyon said he and other black fathers will now have to add teachers to the list when discussing with their sons how to behave around authority figures.
“Please don’t make it dangerous for children who look like my children to go to school,” he said before the Senate Rules Committee approved the bill on Monday.
Stock photos by Bunlue Nantaprom / EyeEm, Westend61 / Getty Images
