AKA Dr.John:

In March of 2019, the Florida House Committee passed a bill that would allow gun owners to keep their firearms in a vehicle while on school property. It is a bill that would change the current law stating that guns are not allowed on school campuses. The problem with the law is that school districts have been misinterpreting it to include a person’s own car. That has led to several unjust charges, and placing innocent people in jail. 

However, there are other benefits to the proposed law as well. 

Supporters of the bill have stated that it allows people to visit school property without first going home to drop off their gun. Many people legally carry guns and if a parent needs to attend a parent-teacher meeting, or watch their child in an extra-curricular activity, they can simply head straight to the school without worrying whether or not they have a weapon in their vehicle. 

“It is no secret that school shootings are a real problem in Florida and around the country,” said Attorney Douglas Leifert of the law firm Leifert & Leifert. “While arming teachers may not be an appropriate solution, allowing people to bring their own personal safety protection may be the answer. It is doubtful that anyone would object to a firearm being used for personal protection, or the protection of others when they are under fire.” 

Critics of the bill state that school districts should be allowed to determine what does and does not happen on their campuses. The problem with this though, is that school districts are trained in the area of education. They do not fully understand the criminal justice system and as such, they should not be making rules that go directly against a person’s rights. The new law would close that loophole. 

Gun owners still have to wait before they pack their guns into their vehicles and head onto school property. The proposed legislation is not law just yet. Now it will move to other committees for debate. If it passes there, the House will vote on the bill.