Florida Governor Rick Scott Announces $500 Million School Safety And Mental Health Plan
By: Kayla Pasacreta
Florida governor Rick Scott, photo via Getty Images
Following mounting calls to Florida Governor Rick Scott to do something following the fatal Parkland shooting that left seventen people dead, he is finally making some real change. In a press conference this morning, Scott announced a $500 million initiative designed to improve school safety and mental health. Scott stated, "Keeping guns away from dangerous people and people with illnesses is what we need to do," he continued, "I want to make it virtually impossible anyone who is a danger to themselves or others to use a gun.β In his speech, he also disagreed with the NRA about arming teachers.
Here are some provisions of the plan:
- Ups the age required to purchase a fire arm from 18 to 21, with exception for military and law enforcement officers
- Mandatory law enforcement officer in every public school one per 1,000 students, which must be implemented by start on 2018 school year.
- Designates $450 million to student safety and $50 million to mental health initiatives
- Calls for a ban on bump stocks, which allow weapons to fire at the rate of an automatic weapon
Scott's proposals are in clear deviance of the NRA, but mark a significant stride towards tougher gun control. These initiatives are definitely a start, and no doubt are a testament to the tireless activism of the Parkland students.
