WPBN: It is still possible for young people in Florida to obtain firearms by breaking into automobiles that are not locked, and there is a new piece of law that has been suggested to crack down not just on the teenagers but also on their parents.
“We see it happen every single week. Unfortunately, we’re in juvenile detention hearings every single day, even on holidays,” Freddy Barton, the executive director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough stated.
Barton has expressed his excitement at the prospect of observing the progress that House Bill 15 will make in Tallahassee in its efforts to address the issue.
“Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Plant City Police Department, Temple Terrace Police Department, all of our law enforcement partners do a great job of providing gun locks and gun safes, but that’s not enough,” Barton stated.
The goal of House Bill 15 is to make progress in this area.
The Democratic representative for District 21, Yvonne Hinson, who represents a portion of Alachua County and a portion of Marion County, stated that her bill is centered on the secure storage of firearms in automobiles, boats, and motorbikes, as well as the consequences for parents who have teenagers who steal firearms from automobiles.
“Those are going to be the sanctions. It’s not a punishment per se. It’s an education tool, so parents understand their role, their responsibility as it pertains to a juvenile,” Hinson stated.
The proposed fines can include things like therapy for families, community service projects, or workshops for parents to learn about parenting. Another member of the legislature who is in favor of the bill is State Representative Christine Hunschofsky.
“The goal here isn’t to punish as much to educate and make sure that parents know what their kids are doing, that kids aren’t getting themselves into trouble they shouldn’t be getting themselves into,” Hunschofsky, D-Broward County stated.
Hinson stated that she had presented a form of the bill on two earlier occasions over the course of the past three years, and she is hopeful that it will be successful this time around.
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“We know that even law enforcement is now supporting this bill, as they did last year, because young people with guns or now are firing back at them,” Hinson stated.
Rep. Hinson stated that earlier versions of the bill, which were introduced over the years, included provisions for a parental penalty or sanctions for gun owners. On the other hand, she stated that such would not receive support, which is why Hinson presented the version that is currently being considered.
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Under the bill, law enforcement would also be required to conduct public awareness programs in order to educate the general public and gun owners about the need of accountability. March 4 is the day that the regular legislative session of Florida in 2025 will begin.
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