Groups Speak Out Against Proposed Gun Bills At State Capitol

<p>Dozens of people went to the state Capitol Tuesday, demanding what they call sensible gun laws in the wake of the Parkland Florida school shooting.  </p>

Tuesday, February 27th 2018, 7:02 pm

By: Aaron Brilbeck

Groups Speak Out Against Proposed Gun Bills At State Capitol

Dozens of people went to the state Capitol Tuesday, demanding what they call sensible gun laws in the wake of the Parkland Florida school shooting.

Members of the groups “Everytown for Gun Safety” and “Moms Demand Action”, converged on the Capitol with a list of bills they don’t want to see pass.

The bills include:

HB 3192 allow districts to decide whether teachers can carry weapons
HB 2632 Expansion of stand your ground to include places of worship
HB 2951 Constitutional carry, which would allow anyone 21 or over without a felony conviction to carry a firearm without a permit
SB 1159 Allow college students to carry on campus.

Retired teacher Carol Duffy was spurred into action after the Florida school shooting.

“I just felt like, that is enough. I had had enough,” Duffy said.

Duffy said she isn’t anti-gun, but stands with Moms Demand Action against the bills, especially letting teachers carry guns. She says it hits close to home.

“My mind is on teaching reading. I’m not… I can’t switch gears like that and shoot somebody. No,” said Duffy.

Representative Bobby Cleveland (R) chairs the Public Safety Committee where some of these bills are expected to be heard Wednesday. He says gun control isn’t the answer.

“How many people have we killed this year by drunk driving? Thousands in the United States. How many babies have we aborted? Millions. No one’s talking about that,” said Cleveland.

As for the bills, Cleveland said, “There’s no wrong time to do the right thing. And these bills will move forward and I support the second amendment 100-percent.”