FL Lawmakers Refile Risk Protection Bills 10 Years After Sandy Hook

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Ten years after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre, two Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday refiled joint legislation to strengthen Florida’s Risk Protection Order laws.

Senate Bill 66 and House Bill 45 would expand the definition of "petitioner" in the statute to allow parents, stepparents, legal guardians, spouses and siblings to petition Florida courts for a risk protection order. The bills were filed by Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boca Raton, and Florida Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton.

Since Senate Bill 7026 was passed following the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 14, 2018, Berman said more than 8,000 risk protection orders have been filed in Florida.

Risk protection orders allow a law enforcement officer or a law enforcement agency to obtain a court order temporarily restricting a person’s access to firearms for up to one year. The orders would be issued when a person poses a significant danger of harming themself or others by possessing a firearm.

Berman originally filed a risk protection order bill in October 2017, preceding the Parkland shooting, and brought forth measures ranging from limiting firearms in child-care facilities to prohibiting domestic abusers from owning a gun.

Related:

• Remembering Sandy Hook Victims 10 Years Later
• Parkland Families Still Waiting For Change 4 Years After Massacre

“Legislators come and go, as do legislative sessions. But one constant is that mass shootings and gun violence tragedies only increase. One major tool we have in our toolbox is RPOs, not only to prevent these tragedies but to intervene with suicidal individuals," Berman said. "Expanding the individuals who can file an RPO is a commonsense measure to decrease these horrific actors and their unspeakable actions costing more human life. It’s time we take swift and bold action.”

“There are no words left to say, no arguments left to make, no opining left to do, no thoughts and prayers left to offer. It is time to act,” said Skidmore. “This lifesaving tool has already been proven to be highly effective. Expanding its scope of use will empower people to take action when they see the early warning signs of potentially dangerous behavior.”

“RPOs save lives and Moms Demand Action supports expanding who can petition for temporary removal of a person’s guns to include close family members who best recognize at-risk individuals without relying on law enforcement to first become involved. It comes down to this: if a family member sees a warning sign, they can respond to it by asking for an RPO to save the life of the individual and others, and the proposed legislation makes this happen,” said Kelley Diveto, legislative lead of the Palm Beach County Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.