Thread by @FloridaEA

#SB7030 is up for final passage in the House right now. You can watch here thefloridachannel.org

This will be the final stop before the bill reaches the governor's desk.

As with yesterday's #SB7070 this bill will have structured debate 15 min. per side.

First to debate is Rep. @CindyPoloFL103 who says she had a speech ready weeks ago but that last night's questioning and debate changed that speech. "I'm trying to find a balance btw being angry and keeping you accountable," she says.

Rep. @CindyPoloFL103 continues by saying "We have forgotten the impact that this new world has on our children...I don't believe that having more weapons in classrooms gets it right." Rep. Polo also apologizes for "losing focus" last night during questioning.

Rep. @CindyPoloFL103 concludes her debate by reading the transcript of this video and saying, "I hope today is a new day and we can get it right."

#SB7030

Rep. @SusanLValdes is next in the first block of debate. "She says I rise in opposition to this bill because our teachers did not go to school to be cops, to have a weapon on their body, in a drawer. We see accidents happen every day.

"We need to give teachers the tools they need to keep expanding minds...It breaks my heart to hear that the answer is 'let's put a gun in a teacher's belt, on a teacher's body." Rep. @SusanLValdes continues. #SB7030

The final speaker in the first block of debate is Rep. @RichardNStark. His debate focuses on liability. He points out that last year--as well as last night--he asked questions about this but received no answers.

The 2nd block of debate starts with Rep. @DaneEagle who talks about the need for compromise and the need for legislators to work together. He concludes by telling the story of a teacher who told him they wanted to be able to carry a firearm on campus.

Rep. @DaneEagle was the sole speaker in the 2nd block of debate.

On the 3rd block first to speak is Rep. @PHW4District92 who says, "I was here last year when the students begged us to take away guns. I was here when some of you REFUSED to meet w/students." #SB7030

Rep. @PHW4District92 concludes, "Enough is enough. We pay our teachers to teach our children and we pay our LEOs to serve and protect. That's their job."

Next in debate is Rep. @johncortesfl who tells the story of a parent who came to him and told her that her child is scared to go to school--that they don't want to be in a school w/teachers who carry guns.

"Guns do not belong in teachers' hand when they are teaching," concludes Rep. @johncortesfl on debate for #SB7030

Rep. @Javierfor114 is next to speak in the 3rd block of debate. He says, "We've been asked to believe that teachers can do what LEOs can't with only a quarter of the training...I ask you to vote down on this measure."

This round of debate will conclude with Rep. @AnnaForFlorida who recounts where she was on the day of the Parkland shooting. She says she opposed the bill last year b/c "it doesn't go far enough" to address root causes of violence and offer solutions.

Rep. @AnnaForFlorida continues debate on #SB7030 by discussing risk factors for school shooters and that having a gun more readily available is one of those factors. "The risk is so great insurance providers don't want to supply coverage. Even the free-market is saying: Slow down

The first speaker in the 4th round of debate is Rep. Roach. Who says, "We haven't spent much time focusing on the MSD School Safety Commission Report" he says before reading form the reports.

Rep. Roach mentions the report says that the people most likely to stop a report is school personnel--which is true.

Rep. Roach neglected to mention that those school personnel weren't armed.

One part of the MSD School Safety Commission that Rep. Roach probably won't read from during his debate on #SB7030 is "Districts are able to employ somebody in a guardian fully loaded probably somewhere for around $35k. So, it is a much more economical way of accomplishing this.

Rep. Roach was the only member to speak in the 4th round of debate on #SB7030. The next round starts w/Rep. @BrowardCrimeLaw

"As a parent of a child in public schools, I think the issue we're missing is the psychological effects of this (arming teachers) on children."

"We're not focusing on the core problem here," Rep. @BrowardCrimeLaw continues. "We're focusing on a symptom. We need to stop the hate. We are creating instead a military-style structure. We're creating a police state."

Next in debate is Rep. @JoeGellerFL who says, "It is my personal belief that this program will lead to loss of life. I wish we didn't have a need for any guns at any our schools, but trained LEOs are who we should be having there. Not somebody who has never been under fire."

"For years, I had a bill that would never get a hearing that would have increased funds for School Resource Officers." says Rep. @JoeGellerFL as he concludes on his debate.

"I began shooting around the age of 12 and have fired 10s of thousands of rounds in my lifetime,' starts @Adam4Florida on debate. He then talks about his military service and his extensive firearms use there. "My fellow servicemen were expected to fire safety protocols."

Rep. @Adam4Florida continues "That is why I am perplexed by this legislation that would allow civilians to carry weapons with no safety procedures."

"Even LEOs with significantly more training have a hit rate btw 15-20% & even less when fired is returned," he continues.

"I will come from the standpoint of the children. Children are extremely bright," says Rep. @delores_fl as she beings her debate. "They are curious. They will find out who has the gun and they will concentrate on that."

The next round of debate starts w/Rep. @ByronDonalds who starts by complementing his fellow Republicans on their debate so far.

Donalds then explains why LEOs and military need extensive firearms training before justifying why teachers don't.

"What we know with respect to active shooters is that they appear at a moment's notice and nobody is prepared," continues Rep. @ByronDonalds "but we have to acknowledge...the first responders--the real first responders are school staff."

After another Republican round of the structured debate with only one speaker, Rep. @GoodforFlorida speaks in the next Democratic block of time.

She starts by reading a resolution from a school board in her district which has resolved not to arm teachers.

"#SB7030 does not acknowledge that gun violence isn't just in our schools. It is in our synagogues, our churches, our night clubs. It's in our streets," says Rep. @GoodforFlorida who says arming teachers is another disconnect btw what voters want and what the Legislature does.

Rep. @mattwillhitefl says, "I don't want the mistake to happen where someone thought there was an active shooter b/c a gun was accidentally discharged in a school." as he rises in opposition to #SB7030

"All I heard for 2 weeks in this chamber is that parent's are the absolute expert on their chid's education, safety, and health, says Rep. @TinaPolsky before lamenting that #SB7030 does not offer parents the choice to opt their child out of a classroom w/an armed teacher.

Rep. @jenniferwebbfl is the next to debate #SB7030 who says, "At the heart of this is who do we protect our children. My colleagues offered great amendments yesterday to protect children. These options would have made his bill better."

"By the time the gun is in the classroom, it's too late. We don't want gunfire around our children." concludes Rep. @jenniferwebbfl.

First in the next round of Republican debate is Rep. Brannan III who mentions after Columbine he began talking w/his wife about how she (a school teacher) would keep her students safe.

The real problem Rep. Brannan continues is "these gun-free zones." "A shooter will think twice when they know there's someone who will shoot back." He of course provides no evidence and said this unironically while standing in a gun-free zone.

If you’re wondering why we aren’t sharing more tweets of what the Republican members of the House are saying in debate—we’ve shared from every R who has spoken. For whatever reason, they are being remarkably silent before their ultimate “yes” vote on #SB7030

The Democratic members of the House, on the other hand, are making it clear why they oppose the amendment. Next up for the Democrats is Rep. @kamiabrownfl45 She notes that "A child is shoot every 17 hours in this state." and the Legislature has not provided solutions for them.

Rep. @kamiabrownfl45 concludes, "Let's listen to the parents. The students. The law enforcement professionals. They have all opposed this program. Let's not continue to be cheap when it comes to our children. "

"I want to make you aware who people choose to go into education. They go into education b/c they are interred in shaping the minds of children. They go into education b/c they understand that when you touch the life of children, you shape the future," @RepGThompson on #SB7030

Rep. @RepGThompson continues, "Most teachers have more than one job. Just being a teacher isn't enough to pay the rent, to buy food."

.@RepGThompson recounts her experience being in the Florida Senate during the Pulse nightclub shooting and says, "The perpetrator knew there would be armed security at Pulse, so to say someone won't attack a school b/c teachers are armed doesn't vibe."

"We refuse to keep the main thing the main thing." Rep. @RepGThompson continues. She said after Pulse she asked Gov. Scott if they could talk about gun reform. That was June of 2016. This is May of 2019...The main thing is ready-access to guns in this society."

"I heard so many elected leaders say their thoughts and prayers went out to the Pulse victims. Nobody elected us to be their Chaplin. We weren't elected to provide thoughts and prayers." concludes Rep. @RepGThompson

Back to the Republican block of debate. First is Rep. @tommygregoryFL. He asks, "Is it a belief or a fact that a good gut w/a gun can stop an active shooter?"

He then claims it's a fact b/c the recent synagogue shooting was stopped w/o anyone using a gun.

Would a "good guy w/a gun" be helpful? Not according to FBI data.
For active shooter events between 2000-2013, only about 3% were stopped by a civilian with a gun. Unarmed civilians stopped more incidents — about 13 percent. fbi.gov/file-repositor… (page 11)
cc: @tommygregoryFL

Rep. @tommygregoryFL continues, "You don't want the bad guy to know who has the gun. Sometimes you need a teacher who has the right background. Make no mistake about it. There are 3 kinds of people Sheep. Sheepdogs. Wolves. This is the arming sheepdogs bill."

Another block of Republican debated consisted of only one Republican member of the House debating.

They will vote for #SB7030 very soon, but they seem unwilling to explain why.

Rep. @NEWTFL is the first Democrat in the next block of debate. He references Sheriff Gualtieri--chair of the MSD School Safety commission who says (in jest) "We should get a gun for every teacher. We could save on a lot of SRO $"

Rep. @NEWTFL, now being serious, says, "this is asinine. If #SB7030 is the best we can come up with, we need to go back to the drawing board."

Rep. @FentriceD "I rise in opposition to #SB7030, but I do not rise alone. Teachers oppose this bill. Students oppose this bill. The opposition to this bill is far, deep, & wide. Not just because of arming teachers, but there is a lack of substance to this bill."

"When we are talking about our kids and putting guns in the hands of civilians, but yesterday we heard repeatedly that there are unanswered questions. We don't know what the procedures should be for storing the guns in a safe and responsible manner," continues Rep. @FentriceD

That concludes the Democratic block. First in the next block of Republican debate is Rep. @Mel_Ponder who starts by quoting Ephesians 4:16: "He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow."

Rep. @Mel_Ponder then goes on to discuss aspects of #SB7030 other than arming teachers and how all of the parts of legislation work together to keep students safe.

Rep. @ChrisLatvala is next in the Republican block of debate. He says, "I really wasn't planning on debating," but he wanted to clarify that a parent of a Parkland student who was referenced earlier. does support the bill.

That ends this block of debate.

The next block of Democratic debate starts w/Rep. @CarlosGSmith who says after Parkland we heard from many people who wanted two things
1. Ban assault weapons
2. Don't arm teachers
Smith continues, "The carefully crafted compromise we worked on last year has been abandoned."

"Right now in our schools, our teachers cannot afford basic things. Districts are running out of paper and school supplies. Three is not enough money for school construction, but the moment we want to arm teachers $59 million falls out of the sky," continues Rep. @CarlosGSmith

Rep. @CarlosGSmith concludes, "Please vote with our teachers, our students, our parents, and with everyday Floridians. Please vote this bill down."

Next in debate is Rep. @KristinJacobsFL the sole representative of Parkland"nd wants to provide her perspective on members using "we."

"When I think of 'we' I think of the compromise that happened in last year's bill. I don't feel the we-the compromise-in this bill

Rep. @KristinJacobsFL then recounts she was present last year at the mass shooting in Tallahassee. She points out the shooting was stopped by a good gut w/a vacuum not a good guy w/a gun tallahassee.com/story/news/201…

"We knew the outcome on my side of the aisle the moment the bill came out. Why did we know? Because we are not at the table. This is not a bill that includes we. It is a bill that is us and them," concludes Rep. @KristinJacobsFL

The next block of Republican debate starts with Rep. @ErinGrall who says it's important to remember that "words matter." "There is a fundamental difference" she says "btw arming teachers and allowing teachers to be armed." while speaking in support of #SB7030

Rep. @ErinGrall says #SB7030 addresses mental health issues in students and says active shooters are "sane-enough to go to gun-free zones. This bill is about life and it is about defending it." (She says this from a gun-free zone).

Switching topics to abortion, Rep. @ErinGrall says "189 babies are murdered every day in Florida don't hear the outcry for those babies. And if you don't think this culture of death leads to school shootings, you're not paying attention."

And that's how debate on #SB7030 ends--by decrying abortion.

Rep. @voteforjennifer is closing on the bill. The vote will take place soon. And we'll post vote totals ASAP.

The final vote on #SB7030 was 65-47. The bill is now headed to the governor's desk.

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