Thread by @FloridaEA

The @FLSenate will be in session from 10am-1pm today. #SB7030 (the bill which would allow for arming of teachers) is on the agenda for its second reading. For those who need a refresher on the legislative process, attached is a picture that explains what second reading means. 1/3

We'll be watching the meeting and will keep you up-to-date when #SB7030 is being debated.

As always, you can watch the meeting live here: thefloridachannel.org 2/3

The full text of the bill as well as amendments which will be heard today (there are over 20 of them) can be found here: flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

While we're waiting for #SB7030 to be heard, here's an editorial from a Parkland survivor who explains why arming teachers won't make students feel safer: sun-sentinel.com/opinion/commen…

The Senate has now dispensed with the bills that were on third order and are now taking up the bills on second order. #SB7030 should be heard soon.

#SB7030 is now being heard on the Senate floor.

Again, in addition to following this tweet thread, you can watch a livestream of the video here: thefloridachannel.org

Sen. @SenMannyDiazJr is introducing a strike-all amendment to #SB7030.

Full text of the strike-all is here: flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

Now, there will be 20+ amendments discussed and debated. The first is from Sen. @Annette_Taddeo failed. It would have required the sheriff in the county to implement the Guardian program.

The next amendment is from @SenatorThurston. It would keep the bill in line with current law by excluding teachers from the Guardian Program.

Speaking in favor of the @SenatorThurston amendment, Sen. @oscarjb2 says, that if the Senate does not adopt this amendment "We are putting people in harms way."

Sen. @oscarjb2 continues, "there are children living with gun violence every day outside of school. The school is a safe place for them; the teacher is a safe place for them. Let's not remove this safe space for students."

In concluding, Sen. @oscarjb2 says, "If this amendment does pass, we can have a completely bipartisan bill...and support the will of the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas."

Explaining his opposition to the amendment, Sen @SenMannyDiazJr says this bill provides local control.

We're likely to hear this argument a lot today.

Whenever you hear someone today say that they support #SB7030 because it provides local control,” there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, though arming of teachers might be optional for teachers, it will not be optional for students.

Second, areas where the Legislature doesn’t allow for school districts to exercise “local control” include awarding professional services contracts, 3rd grade retention, approval of new charter schools.

But, guns? That’s where the Legislature supports “local control.”

In debate on the @SenatorThurston amendment, @TravisJHutson says, "The only thing we have for our teachers when in harms way is for them to be able to fight back."

However, there is no evidence to support Sen. Huston's claims. In fact, the overwhelming number of school shootings are stopped by unarmed civilians.

Still on the Sen. Thurston amendment, @VicTorres_FL asks, "How many weapons are we going to have in schools?"He goes on to say, "we should let teachers teach and let officers keep students safe."

Sen. @VicTorres_FL continues, "we are proud of our teachers, but I'm telling you they are not the ones who could be carrying firearms on our campus."

Sen. @Gayle_Harrell says this is a "voluntary program."

We'll remind you (probably multiple times today) that it is not voluntary for students. If a student doesn't want to be in a classroom with an armed teacher, they don't have a choice.

Sen. @Gayle_Harrell continues that the Guardian Program would require teachers to be "well trained"
#SB7030 requires only 8 hours of active shooter training for a “Guardian” By comparison for a Florida teacher to obtain their reading endorsement requires 300 hours of coursework

Sen. Montford says, "This is one of the toughest issues I've had to deal with since I've been in the Senate...I think we're missing a very underlying issue. Why in the world would we put ourselves in the position of saying the last...

line of defense is a teacher. Why do we put our teachers in the position of having to make a life or death choice because we won't provide the funding to have adequate safety measures in our school."

Montford concludes, "I don't think we need to put that burden on classroom teachers."

Sen. @dennisbaxley rises in opposition to the amendment and says that arming teachers could provide a deterrent to someone who is considering a school-shooting. He provides no evidence to support his claim.

Sen. @dennisbaxley references hearing from a "US Marine" who is an educator and wants to be able to be a guardian.

However, in every committee stop there were multiple armed forces veterans and current educators who testified as to why teachers should not be armed.

Sen. @JoseJavierJJR brings up the NRA--he says their number one issue nationwide is getting rid of safe zones.

Rodriguez says this would be a bipartisan bill if this amendment were adopted.

Sen. @FarmerForFLSen points out even trained LEOs who practice regularly lose accuracy when they are in an active-shooter training. Farmer further takes issue with those saying the program is "voluntary" by saying the funding attached to it could force districts to participate.

Sen. @FarmerForFLSen concludes "We should give our teachers tools of mass instruction not weapons for mass destruction."

"When I was growing up my mother used to say uh-oh doesn't bring anybody back," says Sen. @Powell4Senate as he warns against the danger of guardian being shot and killed by an LEO who didn't know the armed teacher was a guardian.

Sen. @Powell4Senate, a former teacher, continues, "If you haven't been in the classroom...you don't know everything that is going on" as he refers to students who would attempt to gain access to a teacher's firearm.

Sen. @Rob_Bradley tells the Senate that "over time we adapt and we evolve." As he explains why he would support the arming of teachers.

Sen. @AaronPBean says, "the world has changed. There is evil in the world, and a ruler will not stop evil" as he explains why he supports arming teachers.

But does a "good guy with a gun" actually make places safer? The research suggests it doesn't.

For active shooter events between 2000 and 2013, only about 3 percent were stopped by a civilian with a gun. Unarmed civilians stopped more incidents — about 13 percent. fbi.gov/file-repositor…

"History will ask, where were you at times when decisions needed to be made of great, important issues of the day," says @darrylrouson as he supports the Sen. @SenatorThurston amendment.

.@darrylrouson quotes a teacher who testified when the bill was heard in the appropriations committee, "collateral damage is not acceptable." Sen. Rouson says those words really stuck with him.

Sen. @darrylrouson also reminds his Senate colleagues that the students who've come up to Tallahassee have said, do not arm our teachers.

In closing Sen. @darrylrouson recounts last week when he called up his second grade teacher while he was meeting with a group of his constituents.

Sen. @DSimmonsFL is now at least the third senator to speak in opposition to the amendment due to "local control." So, again we'll remind you though arming of teachers might be optional for teachers, it will not be optional for students.

Areas where the Legislature doesn’t allow for school districts to exercise “local control” include awarding professional services contracts, 3rd grade retention, approval of new charter schools. But, guns? That’s where the Legislature supports “local control.”

Sen. @DSimmonsFL says "if there is a debate about this, there shouldn't be a debate in this chamber--in this body."

But it's worth asking why the Legislature seems determined to use "local control" to allow districts to make more mistakes like these. giffords.org/2019/04/every-…

A reminder for those who might just now be seeing the thread, you can watch the debate live here: thefloridachannel.org

Sen. @SenAudrey2eet says, arming teachers "is not a road we should go down." She asks--"Where will the firearms be kept? Will there be a firearm on the teacher? What kind of signal does that send to our students?"

Sen. @SenAudrey2eet says, "This is not a party issue. This is about kids." She concludes by telling a story of a time she was recently at a school and the firearm of a LEO accidentally discharged and a separate recent incident where gunfire off campus struck a school.

Debate on the @SenatorThurston amendment has concluded; he's closing on the amendment. He reminds his colleagues that when the students came up to Tallahassee they said, "Do not arm our teachers!"

Sen @SenatorThurston concludes, "We want teachers to do that which we need them to do. Let's put the resources where they need to be. Let's work together."

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good," @SenatorThurston says as he calls for bipartisanship--suggesting that if his amendment passes the bill will have overwhelming support from members of both parties.

Sen. @SenatorThurston's amendment failed. Vote was 16-22

Next up is an amendment from Sen. Montford which would afford the same retirement benefits to guardians as are provided to law enforcement officers.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

First to speak in favor of the Montford amendment is Sen. @SenatorThurston who says, "If we're going to arm teachers...it's only right to give them the benefits they deserve."

In closing, Montford says he doesn't see why this amendment would be controversial at all. "Why would we not provide them with the same benefits?"

The amendment fails on a voice vote. The next amendment is from @SenJanetCruz. It would provide transparency to the Guardian program. Full text of amendment here: flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

The @SenJanetCruz amendment fails on a voice vote.

Here's a better view of the vote tally on the @SenatorThurston amendment which would prohibit the arming of teachers.

The next amendment is from Sen. @Annette_Taddeo. This would allow parents and students to "opt out" of being in a classroom with an armed teacher.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

We'll find out soon how serious some were earlier in the meeting when they said they support the voluntary nature of the bill.

"I've heard a lot today about optional...what about the option of the parents? What about the option of the kids? They should have that right. Just like we do for physical education for sex education. Let's give parents a choice." concludes @Annette_Taddeo

On a voice vote the @Annette_Taddeo amendment which would allow for students and parents to opt out of being in a classroom with an armed teacher failed.

The next amendment is from Sen. @SenJanetCruz. This would provide flexibility to the use of school safety funding including offsetting costs of school hardening and school resource officers.
flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

On a voice vote the @SenJanetCruz fails.

The next amendment is from Sen. @darrylrouson which he says would provide flexibility to school districts to contract with managing entities for mental health.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

Like many of the amendments before it, the Sen. Rouson amendment fails on a voice vote.

Next up is an amendment from Sen. @Kathleen4SWFL dealing with mental health.

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

After a few questions, and with no debate, the @Kathleen4SWFL amendment passes on a voice vote.

Next up is an amendment from Sen. @oscarjb2 which would require school districts to notify county sheriffs and the Office of Safe Schools when a guardian is either disciplined or discharges their gun flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

Sen. @oscarjb2's amendment was adopted, and now he has another one which would also require districts to provide information regarding the number of safe-school officers. flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2…

As with the last amendment, the bill's sponsorSen. @SenMannyDiazJr supports the amendment and it easily passes on a voice vote.

With that, the amendments have concluded. The bill is now engrossed and will be placed on third reading.

We will, of course, let you know the bill is placed on the agenda for final debate and vote.

Thanks to senators @loriberman, @Book4Senate @rbracy30 @oscarjb2 @SenJanetCruz @FarmerForFLSen @SenAudrey2eet @BillMontford @senpizzo @Powell4Senate @JoseJavierJJR @darrylrouson @LindaStewartFL @Annette_Taddeo @SenatorThurston @VicTorres_FL for voting to not arm teachers!