🗞 Florida: Parliament rejects stricter weapons legislation

Despite the rampage in Parkland, Florida's parliament has voted against a stricter weapon law. Young people from the concerned school were in the auditorium, dramatic scenes happened after the vote.

The result of the vote was clear: With 71:36 votes, the parliament of Florida has rejected a sharper weapon law. The new law would have banned certain semi-automatic rifles, such as the AR-15, and large magazines.

The vote in the parliament in the capital Tallahassee took place one week after the massacre at a school in Parkland. At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a 19-year-old with a semi-automatic weapon had killed 14 students and three adults.
In the auditorium of the Tallahassee Parliament, students form that school listening broke out in tears. "If there is another massacre, it will be your fault," said 16-year-old Sheryl Acquaroli, according to CNN. "They had a chance to stop it today." The next person to be killed by an AR-15 will be the account of the 71 MPs who had rejected the stricter weapons law.

Before the vote the students were still optimistic. "We're here to make sure that never happens again," one said. And, "I'm not going back to school until legislators and the president change that law," said Tyra Hermans, 19.

President Donald Trump announced to meet with students and teachers. People from Parkland, among others, will attend the interview, said spokesperson Sarah Sanders.
The White House did not specify who would participate in the round of talks called "Listening Session". Also frame and length remained open. Sanders said those affected by the school massacres of Columbine and Newtown would also come to the White House.

In Columbine, in 1999, two perpetrators killed 12 high school students, a teacher, and themselves. In Newtown, a man shot his mother first in 2012, and then 20 children, six employees, and himself at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Under public pressure following the Parkland massacre, Trump has called on the Ministry of Justice to ban specific weapon devices. With them, semi-automatic weapons can shoot as fast as machine guns.
Such a "Bump Stock" plastic top was used by the assassin of Las Vegas in October 2017. He killed 58 people and himself.

"We have to do more to protect our children," said Trump. His arrangement about the "Bump Stocks", however, means no breakthrough. The Department of Justice has pointed out in the past that while it does recommend a "bump stock" ban, it can not enforce it on its own. That is the task of the legislator.

Source: dpa, CNN

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