Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Florida Governor Rick Scott Just Signed a Gun Bill the NRA Hates

Florida Governor Rick Scott Just Signed a Gun Bill the NRA Hates
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Finally, after endless debate and countless shootings in schools all across the United States, it seems the first steps are finally being made towards gun reform. On Friday, March 9, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, a bi-partisan compromise bill that regulates many aspects of purchasing a gun that came into play prior to the shooting in Parkland.


Many Americans are hoping similar steps will be taken in other states, if not at a federal level.

In some ways, the new law is a big step for those who have called for stricter gun control.

But it also includes some controversial sections, including a measure to arm some teachers and a conspicuous lack of legislation regarding assault rifles..

This legislation was clearly influence by the #NeverAgain movement, spearheaded by survivors of the shooting in Parkland, Florida.

On February 14, a gunman killed 17 innocent people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In the wake of this terrible tragedy, many survivors became vocal advocates of stricter gun control laws, appearing all across the media and organizing the March for Our Lives, which will take place in Washington D.C. on March 24 and is expected to host 500,000 people.

Governor Scott doesn't agree with everything in the bill, especially the passage which allows the armament of teachers. He addressed this during the conference by saying:

I still think law enforcement officers should be the ones who protect our schools. I've heard all the arguments for teachers to be armed and, while this bill would significantly change on this topic, I'm still not persuaded. I'm glad, however, the plan is not mandatory, which means it be up to local elected officials.

Some Twitter users, however were skeptical of his sincerity.

Tony Montalto, father of one of the Parkland shooting victims, read a statement following the bill's signage:

When it comes to preventing future acts of horrific school violence, this is beginning of the journey. We have paid a terrible price for this progress. We call on more states, to follow Florida's lead, and create meaningful legislation to make all schools safer.

Though most seem to agree the bill is at least a step in the right direction, the NRA is vehemently opposed to it.

They filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida almost immediately. Their largest qualm with the bill is its restriction on buying guns until a person is 21 years of age. The NRA argues that this violates individuals 2nd and 14th amendments. The second amendment famously upholds an individuals right to bear arms, while the 14th defines what constitutes a U.S. citizen and forbids States (like Florida) from infringing on any constitutionally granted rights. The lawsuit claims that at the age of 18, Americans are considered adults "for almost all purposes and certainly for the purposes of the exercise of fundamental constitutional rights."

After all, if you can enlist in the military at 18, shouldn't you legally be allowed to own a gun?

Though the perfect answer to America's gun violence problem still eludes lawmakers, bills like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act are a definite improvement on what America has typically done after a mass-shooting: nothing. Perhaps with forward steps like this one, we may find ourselves in a much safer world before long.

H/T - Twitter, CNN

More from News

Lilly Wachowski; Keanu Reeves
So True with Caleb Hearon/YouTube; Warner Bros.

Lilly Wachowski Shares How She Had To 'Let Go' Of 'The Matrix' After It Was Twisted By Right-Wing Theories

Matrix co-creator Lilly Wachowski has opened up about what it's been like to see her magnum opus The Matrix be co-opted by the far-right.

Anywhere you go in online spaces for the past 10-15 years, right-wing weirdos talk about being "red-pilled," a reference to the film's plot point in which lead character Neo is offered a red pill that will enlighten him to the realities of the systems ruling our lives, or a blue pill that will allow him to stay ignorant.

Keep ReadingShow less
Madonna; Donald Trump
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Madonna Rips Trump Administration's 'Absurd' Decision Not To Mark World AIDS Day For First Time Since 1988

Pop icon, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor Madonna has a bone to pick with the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump.

On Monday, the Queen of Pop noted on Instagram that December 1 was World AIDS Day, but the United States government wouldn't be acknowledging it for the first time since the World Health Organization had established the day in 1988.

Keep ReadingShow less
Franklin the Turtle illustration; Pete Hegseth
CBC Television

'Franklin The Turtle' Publisher Condemns Pete Hegseth For Turning Beloved Character Into Violent Meme

Kids Can Press, the Canadian publisher behind the beloved Franklin children's books, condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a statement after he shared an AI-generated image of Franklin the Turtle to justify his attacks on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.

Hegseth's original meme, which he inexplicably captioned "for your Christmas wish list," features a doctored book cover titled Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists and shows Franklin, the protagonist of the popular Canadian children's book series authored by Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Brenda Clark, firing a bazooka from a helicopter at boats in the water below.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sabrina Carpenter; Donald Trump
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Win McNamee/Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter Rips White House For Using Her Song In 'Evil And Disgusting' Pro-ICE Video

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter warned the White House not to use her music for their "inhumane" agenda after the executive branch posted a video of ICE raids that used her song "Juno" without her consent.

The video released by the White House repurposed a line from Carpenter’s viral “have you ever tried this one” lyric, turning the playful phrase into a backdrop for a montage of ICE agents pursuing, detaining, and handcuffing immigrants.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Reveal The Strangely Specific Things About Someone That Give Off A Bad Vibe

I have feelings about people.

I'm not an empath.

Keep ReadingShow less