Jacksonville, FL — As gun control debates play out at the national level in the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting, we're seeing another debate closer to home.
Florida State Senator Audrey Gibson and State Represenative Lori Berman, both Democrats, are filing twin bills they say are designed to reduce gun violence.
Gibson tells WOKV, the bill is designed to temporarily prevent individuals, who are at a high risk of harming themselves or others, from accessing firearms.
"The bill, simply, with respect to Constitutional rights, offers a court process, with a court order, to allow a family member, or household member, or law enforcement personnel, to get such a order, if someone is demonstrating they pose a significant danger to themselves or others, and have access to a firearm," explains Gibson.
With the evidence-based court order, people who do pose a significant danger would be prevented access to a gun, for a temporary, set amount of time.
Gibson says,"Mental illness is real. This bill, simply, helps families to be able to figure out what they should do, to help a loved one, who is either in some sort of a mental crisis or exhibiting violent behavior and has possession of a firearm."
Gibson says since this requires a court process, the bill would ensure someone's Constitutional rights are not violated, while preventing possible tragedies.
