Legislators scramble as students head to Tallahassee to lobby for tighter gun restrictions

Maybe this time it's different.

On Monday, lawmakers scrambled to come up with legislation in anticipation of the arrival of busloads of students frustrated by years of political inaction despite the growing body count from mass school shootings.

Both the House and Senate worked on a legislative reaction to the Stoneman Douglas High massacre. Gov. Rick Scott scheduled a series of workshops for educators, child welfare experts, and law enforcement to find a way to prevent school shootings.

"While there are only three weeks left of the legislative session, we must make changes to keep students safe,” said Scott Monday. “I am bringing local and state leaders together to find solutions on how to prevent violence in our schools and keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill individuals.”

In the wake of last week's mass shooting, pro-gun forces appear to be on the defensive. The Senate Judiciary Committee pulled a gun bill from its Tuesday agenda.That legislation seeks to allow school principals to designate someone to carry a firearm on campus. Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association has hunkered down under a cloak of no comment in advance of this week’s student-led gun reform effort.

Students from Douglas High in Parkland and other teenagers are arriving in Tallahassee. They've organized a two-day lobbying effort for gun restrictions this week at the Capitol.

“This does feel different,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, talking about the reaction to the latest mass shooting.

Smith has proposed a ban on semi-assault weapons the past two sessions but has yet to see the bill scheduled for a hearing. He has said it may take a transformational election, one focused on guns, to change regulations.

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“The anger many young people from Parkland have against elected officials opposed to gun safety reforms is palpable,” said Smith. “The people of Florida led by student survivors from Stoneman Douglas are calling BS on every politician who sent the usual thoughts and prayers. Floridians want gun reform now.”

And while Scott wants to lead a discussion on gun violence, the students may not like what they will hear. Scott's series of workshops will address how to keep guns away from people with mental illness but will not push for blanket restrictions on access to firearms.

The House and Senate are working on proposals to include a mental health restriction and a three-day waiting period for rifle purchases but no other limits to gun access. Sean Foreman, who chairs the political science department at Barry University in Miami, said the young people who plan to lobby for tougher gun restrictions need to temper their expectations.

"They are not going to be happy,” warned Professor Foreman. “It is not going to be a debate focused on taking away guns. It’s going to be focused on some sort of reasonable middle ground that makes it look like the Legislature is doing something.”

Since the shooting, students have taken the lead in decrying political inaction in light of the Parkland massacre, which has been added to a growing list of small American communities that have become synonymous with gun violence.

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Mothers Demand Action has dropped its lobbying efforts this week to help the students when they arrive at the statehouse. Members of the volunteer group organized after the Sandy Hook mass shooting started showing up at legislative committee hearings last year. MDA volunteers will set up “comfort stations” at the Capitol courtyard during the two-day student lobbying effort.

“We’ll have water, snacks, directions, mental health counseling, hugs, whatever they need,” said Kate Kile, of the Tallahassee chapter.

The students went on cable news networks over the weekend to put lawmakers on notice.

“This is not something that we are going to let sweep under the carpet,” a Douglas High student told Meet the Press Sunday about gun violence and legislative inaction.

Florida has some of the weakest gun control laws in the nation, earning it the nickname the “Gunshine State.” The 19-year old who killed 14 students and three staff members on Valentine's Day had a history of bizarre behavior but could purchase a semi-automatic weapon.

Monday morning Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton and Wilton Simpson, R- Pasco reacted with a six-point proposal that would raise the legal age of possession of an assault rifle to 21, add a three-day waiting period for all rifle purchases and expand school safety and mental health counseling.

Senate President Joe Negron is expected to meet with the students sometime Wednesday afternoon.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran did not respond when asked whether he intends to speak with the students but he did volunteer his support for Scott’s efforts to increase school safety.

“I look forward to working with the Governor and Senate to find solutions that fulfill the most fundamental mission of government – to keep our citizens – our children – safe,” Corcoran said.

Foreman advised gun control advocates to keep an eye on Washington because any federal regulation would overrule Florida law.

Monday afternoon the White House said the President would consider a bill, not opposed by the NRA, that would require state and federal agencies to create a national instant background check for gun purchases.

James Call can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com.