Guns. Long guns. Long, powerful, brutally effective guns — in the hands of impulsive teenagers.

On the third day of the legislative session, the Florida House checked off its priority to return to the days before the Parkland shooting when 18-year-olds could legally buy assault-style rifles. A deeply troubled teen who did just that, after filling out a simple form, killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel columnist.

In Thursday’s debate, the bill sponsor was asked if any studies show Florida would be safer with more guns in more young hands.

“I believe that law-abiding citizens have a right to defend themselves and their property,” said Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, who sponsored House Bill 133.

“That’s the only study I need to be aware of,” Sirois said.

HB 133 passed the House with ease, even though the Senate again shows no interest in this dangerous, divisive idea. Not one senator filed the same bill. Nobody.

Senate President Ben Albritton says he’ll defer to the Senate “as a whole.” That means he won’t make this a priority, so it likely won’t pass.

“Last year, they (senators) were not supportive of it,” Albritton told reporters. “I have not heard anything different this year.”

That makes this a pure “messaging” bill, a symbolic gesture so that House Republicans can show off their pro-gun bona fides in an election year with no result except to inflict more emotional distress on more Floridians, especially the Parkland families.

Polls show Floridians overwhelmingly support keeping the age at 21. A poll by FAU last year said 80% were opposed to it, and 13% were in favor.

The Parkland shooter was 18 when he legally bought his AR-15-style rifle from a gun shop in nearby Coral Springs after passing a brief background check.

In a term-limits dominated House, memories of Parkland get a little dimmer each passing year. Only two current House members, both Democrats, were in the House in 2018 when the age of purchase was raised three weeks after the killings.

Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, who was mayor of Parkland then, quoted one of the victims’ mothers as telling her that  “we’re just another shooting now.”

A portion of the roll call vote on Jan. 15, 2026, in favor of HB 133, lowering the purchase age for long guns in Florida from 21 to 18.

The House roll call vote to let teenagers buy assault rifles was 74 in favor and 37 opposed — exactly a 2-to-1 margin. Six lawmakers did not vote (three seats in the 120-member House are vacant).

A strong argument against teens buying these killing machines is that the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which involves decision-making, judgment and self-control, is not fully developed until about age 25.

A federal appeals court in Atlanta repeatedly cited that when it upheld the age restriction law last year. A judge cited data showing that 18-to-20 year-olds are much likelier to commit gun crimes than older people.

The House’s youngest member, Rep. RaShon Young of Orlando, a 26-year-old Democrat, suggested amending the bill to include a seven-day “cooling off” period before 18-year-olds could take possession of a long gun.

Predictably, Young’s amendment failed, despite his impressive floor speech.

“To now erase those guardrails is not progress — it’s amnesia,” Young said. “And amnesia, in the face of loss, is dangerous. Waiting periods work.”

Seventy-three of the 74 “yes” votes to lower the gun-buying age were cast by Republicans. One Democrat voted yes: Rep. Jose Alvarez of Kissimmee.

Every other Democrat who was present voted no, as did six Republicans — four of them from South Florida.

It is rare for even a half-dozen House Republicans to break with their party on high-profile legislation.

Republican Reps. Hillary Cassel of Dania Beach, Anne Gerwig of Wellington, Peggy Gossett-Seidman of Highland Beach and Chip LaMarca of Lighthouse Point voted to keep the gun-buying age at 21.

So did Reps. Susan Valdés of Tampa and Linda Chaney of St. Pete Beach.

In an explanation attached to the online House vote, Rep. Daryl Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, wrote: “I will not vote for a bill that would result in my constituents being wounded or killed.”

Steve Bousquet is Opinion Editor of the Sun Sentinel and a weekly columnist. Contact him at sbousquet@sunsentinel.com or 850-567-2240.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/17/for-florida-lawmakers-a-deadly-checklist-steve-bousquet/