Lawmakers in Washington state on Friday passed a ban on bump stocks, a gun modification that allows certain weapons to fire more rapidly. They debated the ban under the shadow of last week’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
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Florida governor calls for raising age limit for gun purchases from 18 to 21
Instead of broader gun control, Gov. Rick Scott called for keeping guns away from mentally ill or violent people. He announced funds for “school hardening” and police officers in every school.
‘We will not give up’: Florida school shooting survivors march for tougher gun laws
Thousands descended on Tallahassee to demand legislative action to prevent future school shootings. “This is only the beginning of our history,” one student said. “Please be on the right side of it.”
Skagway residents sell sandwiches to raise funds for Florida shooting victims
Thousands of miles away, in Skagway, Alaska, one family wanted to help those affected. When Skagway resident Greg Getz heard the news, he knew he wanted to offer some sort of support.
Sheriff’s office reports 17 people dead in south Florida high school shooting
The Broward County sheriff’s office identified the suspect as a 19-year-old former student who had been expelled for disciplinary reasons. The sheriff said the shooter used an AR-15 rifle and had “multiple magazines.”
Irma portends new woes for debt-stricken Puerto Rico
The U.S. territory filed to restructure billions in debt earlier this year. Those economic straits threaten to hobble the island’s ability to cope with the effects of the Category 5 hurricane.
State’s mosquitoes have transmitted Zika virus, Florida governor says
Officials say they’ve found the first indication that mosquitoes are transmitting Zika virus in the U.S. Four people in South Florida are infected; travel or sexual transmission has been ruled out.
Assault survivor’s family alleges racism in Bethel courts
At the sentencing hearing of former Bethel police officer Aaron Fedolfi on Tuesday, a debate about race and how it may have influenced his case broke out between the survivor’s family and the defense.
Florida Says Its Fruits, Vegetables Are Safe From Invasive Fruit Fly
Since September, Florida has been fighting an infestation of the Oriental fruit fly, an invasive pest that threatened more than 400 crops. The state declared the insect eradicated as of Saturday.
In Final Report, Experts Identify Remains At Notorious Reform School
Florida’s Dozier School for Boys is a horror tale come to life. Nearly 100 boys died at the school, many unidentified, in unmarked graves. Scientists are trying to discover who they were.