Parkland — Florida’s Republican-controlled senate approved sweeping reforms to the state’s gun law on Monday that raise the minimum purchase age and add a three-day waiting period in response to the deadliest high school shooting in US history last month. Senators approved the legislation after an amendment removed a provision to arm most teachers. That was designed in part to increase support from many parents, law enforcement officials and legislators in both parties — including Republican governor Rick Scott — who objected to the idea. The exclusion was adopted by voice vote as part of a package of legislation the senate passed a short time later, 20-18, to raise the minimum legal age for buying all guns in Florida to 21 and impose a three-day waiting period for any gun purchase. The bill now moves to Florida’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The minimum age for handguns nationally is already 21. However, a person can be as young as 18 to buy a rifle in Florida, w...
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