A new bill in Florida would create stricter penalties for children caught carrying guns, and the state House is expected to hear arguments on the proposal this week.
House Bill 1181, or the Juvenile Justice Bill, would make the first unlawful possession of a gun by a minor a first-degree felony instead of a first-degree misdemeanor, and would increase the time a child would spend in a juvenile detention center. A first-time offender would spend five days, a second-time offender would spend 21 days and a third-time offender would be placed in a juvenile residential program.
State Rep. Berny Jacques, a Republican, is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
“As a result, we will be safer when we address these types of crimes,” Jacques told FOX 13 Tampa Bay. “Secondly, this will help these young people because I saw it as a prosecutor in the adult court system. There were young people who got away with committing the same crimes as juveniles, but when they were in the adult system, it was much less forgive.”
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A new bill proposed in Florida would create stricter penalties for children caught carrying guns. (Brittainy Newman, AP photo)
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri helped state lawmakers create the bill, according to FOX 13.
“The laws need to change,” Gualtieri said at a news conference in December. “We need to get serious and tough and these kids need to be locked up. It sends a message.”
Gualtieri spoke out after a 14-year-old boy shot and killed his 23-year-old sister, Abrille Baldwin, while she was trying to break up an argument over Christmas gifts between him and his 15-year-old brother on Christmas Eve. in Largo, Florida. The 15-year-old then allegedly shot his 14-year-old brother.
Both brothers had previous weapons charges. Gualtieri suspects the guns used in the shooting were stolen from unlocked cars, which authorities say is how weapons involved in most crimes committed by teens in the area are accessed.
“This proliferation of guns on the streets and guns in this area and guns in the hands of these kids is the worst thing I've ever seen in my life,” Gualtieri said.
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The Florida State House is expected to hear House Bill 1181 this week. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“And what's wrong with them? 'Oh, well, you know, he's only 14. He doesn't really understand what's going on. We'll just give him probation.' It's not working. It's not working… enough of this back-and-forth.” ears,” he added.
Gualtieri said the bill was being worked on even before Baldwin's death.
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“I really hope that the Florida Legislature in the next legislative session takes this seriously and passes legislation that holds these kids accountable and helps us stop this because if we don't, we're going to have a big problem,” Gualtieri said.
The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will hear the House companion bill on Thursday.
