Florida House approves repeal of youth rifle restriction

The Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee has approved a bill to repeal a key part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. This provision previously prohibited the sale of rifles to individuals under 21 years old. The repeal, supported by Governor Ron DeSantis, passed with a party-line vote of 13 to 5. Democrats opposed the bill, citing concerns about gun access for young people, while Republicans emphasized Second Amendment rights. This marks a significant shift from the original legislation signed by former Governor Rick Scott in 2018, which aimed to enhance gun safety following the Parkland shooting. The bill will now proceed to another committee before a full House vote.