Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 6 March 2018

Victims' families support Florida governor's safety proposal

bills would allow trained Aaron Feis, who has been
teachers to carry con- hailed as a hero for shield-
cealed weapons, which ing students during the
Scott opposes. Scott's plan school attack. The 37-year-
also goes significantly fur- old graduated from Stone-
ther in preventing people man Douglas in 1999 and
who show signs of violent worked mainly with the ju-
behavior or mental illnesses nior varsity, living in nearby
to obtain guns. The Florida Coral Springs with his wife
Senate is expected to vote and daughter. Republican
on its version of the school Sen. Bill Galvano said he
safety bill Monday. Sena- asked for and received the
tors began debating the approval of Feis' family be-
100-page bill about 3:15 fore proposing the amend-
p.m. in a discussion that ment. Although lawmakers
could take hours. The Sen- are proposing language to
ate amended its bill to limit prevent people showing
which teachers could vol- signs of violence or men-
unteer to go through law tal illness from having guns,
enforcement training and Scott's proposal would let
carry guns in schools. Any relatives and roommates
teacher who does noth- petition courts to bar po-
ing but work in a classroom tentially dangerous people
In this Feb. 27, 2018 photo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott talks alongside Andrew Pollack, right, whose
daughter Meadow was murdered in Parkland during press conference at Miami-Dade Police would not be eligible for from having guns; lawmak-
Department in Doral, Fla. the program, but teachers ers' proposals would not.
(C.M. Guerrero/Miami Herald via AP) who perform other duties, Ultimately, lawmakers and
such as serving as a coach, not Scott will decide what
By B. FARRINGTON implored legislators to pass tion," said Petty, reading and other school employ- the legislation looks like
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Rick Scott's propos- from the group statement. ees could still participate. before the annual legisla-
Families of the 17 Florida al to add armed security Petty's 14-year-old daugh- Other exceptions would be tive session ends Friday, but
high school massacre vic- guards, keep guns away ter, Alaina, was killed in the made for teachers who are Scott could veto a bill and
tims called on the state's from the mentally ill and Feb 14 shooting, along with current or former law en- call lawmakers back to a
Legislature Monday to pass improve mental health pro- 13 schoolmates and three forcement officers, mem- special session to address
a bill they believe will im- grams for at-risk teens. staff members. Scott's pro- bers of the military or who the issue. He said the group
prove school security. "We must be the last fami- posal and the House and teach in a Junior Reserve is supporting Scott’s plan
Reading a statement out- lies to lose loved ones in a Senate bills have significant Officer's Training Corps pro- because “it is the minimally
side Marjory Stoneman mass shooting at a school. differences. Scott wants gram. The amendment also acceptable effort that can
Douglas High School in Bro- This time must be differ- to put more sheriff's depu- names the program for slain get passed in Florida. Right
ward County, Ryan Petty ent and we demand ac- ties in schools. Legislators' assistant football coach now, it is just the way it is.”q

Senators want alerts when gun buyers fail background checks

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Toomey, a Pennsylvania ference in Philadelphia. A bill to strengthen the Congress is considering
bipartisan group of U.S. Republican, and Coons, a The senators said only 13 background checks law, in the wake of the Florida
senators want state law Delaware Democrat, said states run their own back- called "Fix NICS," has high school massacre that
enforcement to be alerted the legislation is a common- ground checks using the gained bipartisan backing killed 17 people.
when someone who isn't al- sense way to keep people federal system, making and support from the NRA. A spokeswoman for Cornyn
lowed to buy a gun tries to trying to illegally buy guns them better equipped to It's unclear if the Toomey declined to comment
purchase one. on the radar of state law investigate people who ille- and Coons bill will be add- Monday on whether the
U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey and enforcement while ensur- gally try to buy firearms. The ed to Fix NICS or other leg- Coons-Toomey proposal or
Chris Coons on Monday ing Second Amendment remaining 37 states and the islation. any other legislation will be
said they will introduce a rights. District of Columbia rely on U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of added to the Fix NICS mea-
bill that requires federal "That's the focus: Common the FBI to run the checks, Texas, the No. 2 Republican sure.
authorities to notify states ground, respecting the the senators said, leaving in the chamber and the Senate Majority Leader
when a felon or a fugitive Second Amendment but them without "critical law lead sponsor of Fix NICS, is Mitch McConnell, a Re-
attempts to buy a firearm making it more difficult for enforcement intelligence a co-sponsor of the Coons- publican from Kentucky,
but fails the National In- people who shouldn't have that they could use to try Toomey bill. said no gun-related legisla-
stant Criminal Background firearms to obtain them," to keep their communities The proposed legislation is tion would be heard in the
Check System. Toomey said at a press con- safe." one of a slew of gun bills Senate this week.q