Florida Passes Gun-Control Bill in Wake of Parkland Shooting

Three weeks after a school shooting in Parkland left 17 dead, Florida lawmakers passed the state's first gun-control legislation in over 20 years, USA Today reports. According to the AP, the bill passed Wednesday raises the legal age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and institutes a three-day waiting period on all gun sales. It also allows schools to arm some personnel, as long as they've completed law-enforcement training and their district is on board. Other portions of the bill ban bump stocks, create mental health programs for schools, and more. The legislation passed the House 67-50 with mixed support from both Republicans and Democrats. It narrowly passed the Senate on Monday, Reuters reports.

The bill includes some of the measures advocated for by survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School but left out one major demand: a ban on assault-style weapons of the kind used in the shooting. However, the dads of two Parkland victims supported the bill, saying it got enough right to be worth passing. The legislation will become law in 15 days unless vetoed by Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who hasn't revealed whether or not he'll do so. He has said in the past he doesn't support arming teachers. (More Parkland school shooting stories.)