Every child in our Nation has a right to feel safe. To achieve that goal, the President will announce a series of actions to protect our children and their communities.–President DJT
Two “nothing burgers:” Florida’s new gun law and President Trump’s proposals.
Here are President Trump’s proposals:
- Hardening our schools: The Administration will make sure our schools are safe and secure—just like our airports, stadiums, and government buildings—with better training and preparedness.
- Strengthening background checks and prevention: President Trump is supporting legislation and reforms to strengthen the background checks system and law enforcement operations.
- Reforming mental health programs: The President is proposing an expansion and reform of mental health programs, including those that help identify and treat individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others.
- Keeping the conversation going: In addition to these immediate actions, President Trump is establishing a Federal Commission on School Safety, chaired by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, to recommend policy and funding proposals for school violence prevention.
None of these is likely to have much effect on firearm violence–they ignore the obvious causes, which include:
- Ineffective regulations
- Too many guns in private hands
Here is what the Florida gun law does:
- Raises the age to purchase a firearm to 21 from 18;
- Requires a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases, with some exceptions;
- Bans the sale or possession of bump fire stocks, which allow a semiautomatic weapon to fire more like an automatic weapon;
- Gives law enforcement more authority to seize weapons and ammunition from those deemed mentally unfit or otherwise a threat;
- Provides additional funding for armed school resource officers and mental health services.
This is marginally better that President Trump’s proposal; unlike Trump’s, Florida’s proposal has been signed into law. Any law that helps is welcome. But again is this much too little too late.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/07/politics/florida-rick-scott-gun-bill/index.html
