Hold on to your wigs folks ‘cuz things are getting crazy in Tally...

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Florida House Appropriations Committee approved a bill Tuesday to implement measures to "prevent" future school shootings, including a $67 million program to train teachers to carry guns.  They are calling it a state-wide "school marshal" program.  The real kicker is that the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a similar bill as well.  That's right, that means both the Republican controlled HOUSE and the Republican controlled SENATE have both passed similar legislation...

Now, if you’re wondering how the “school marshal” program “will work”, well this is it in theory...

The Goal: 10 marshals (teachers trained to carry a gun) in every school, which would equate to 37,000 statewide. The state would reportedly cover the costs of background checks, drug testing, psychological exams and 132 hours of training, but doesn't address whether teachers would have to buy a gun for themselves. The bill does provide a one-time $500 stipend for those who volunteer to have a gun. 

The bill also includes provisions that impose a three-day waiting period for gun purchases in the state, raises the age requirement to buy a gun from 18 to 21 and calls for $400 million to improve school security, mental health counseling and make public school buildings safer.

On top of that, they voted, for the second day in a row, to reject a ban on assault weapons, despite the fact our state has seen 3 mass shooting in less than 2 years...two of which were carried out using high-powered military style firearms, but hey who’s counting right?!?!

Curious as to which members of the 30 person panel that "WE THE PEOPLE" elected in to office voted no to the ban...

"NO" VOTES INCLUDED: chairman, Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, and Republicans Larry Ahern of Seminole, Michael Bileca of Miami, Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill, George Moraitis of Fort Lauderdale, Jeannette Nunez of Miami, Holly Raschein of Key Largo, Chris Sprowls of Palm Harbor and Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes.

"YES" VOTES INCLUDED: Democrats Lori Berman of Lantana, Bobby DuBose of Fort Lauderdale, Katie Edwards-Walpole of Plantation, Kristin Jacobs of Coconut Creek, Shevrin Jones of West Park, Kionne McGhee of Miami, Jared Moskowitz of Coral Springs, David Richardson of Miami Beach, Cynthia Stafford of Miami, Richard Stark of Weston and Republican Bill Hager of Boca Raton.

For the record...Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio oppose arming classroom teachers. President Donald J. Trump supports it, suggesting those willing to carry a firearm could receive a bonus. He has also agreed to consider  raising the minimum age requirement to purchase a high-powered gun like the one used in Parkland from 18 to 21.

SO, at this point you’re probably asking...Whats the saving grace here?  Well, the bills state that implementation is at the discretion of local superintendents and the local Sheriff’s departments, so it sounds like they will get to decide if they in fact want to activate the “school marshal” program in their respective areas and seeing as Superintendent Runcie and Sheriff Israel are both AGAINST arming our teachers this probably WON’T happen in Broward County...Miami -Dade, can’t be too sure.

For those of you that are NOT happy with this NEWS...there’s just one thing to say, and that’s #VoteThemOut!

Bless,

KimmyB