Senator Lauren Book (D-Plantation) and Representative Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs) this week filed (HB 289 / SB 460), otherwise known as ‘Jaime’s Law.’ The bill is named in honor of 14 year old Jaime Guttenberg, who tragically lost her life in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018. This legislation would require that a background check be run on all sales of ammunition. Currently in Florida, those prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm are prohibited from purchasing ammunition. However, Florida law does not require that vendors run background checks on ammunition purchases. The bill is aimed closing this loophole and ensuring our communities are safer.
“As a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, nothing is more important to me than taking action to ensure that a tragedy like what our community experienced never happens again. Jaime’s Law is a huge step in the right direction towards ensuring that weapons and ammunition stay out of dangerous hands. It’s also common sense. If someone walks into a bar and orders a drink, a bartender is required by law to ask for their ID to ensure they are legally allowed to drink. Why isn’t a vendor required by law to ensure that someone wishing to purchase ammunition is legally allowed to do so?” said Representative Dan Daley.
“Background check laws are one of the few gun control measures almost universally supported across both sides of the aisle,” says Senator Lauren Book, who sits alongside Fred Guttenberg on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission. “Jaime’s Law is a common sense solution to ensure those who are already legally prohibited from purchasing firearms are unable to purchase ammunition to fill those firearms” said Senator Lauren Book.
“With 300,000,000 weapons already on the streets, we must make it harder for those who intend to kill to do so. Prohibited purchasers of weapons are also prohibited from buying ammunition, but there is no mechanism in place to keep that ammunition out of their hands. We must close this ammunition loophole and this bill is a step in the right direction to do it. Jaime’s Law will help save lives immediately,” said Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime Guttenberg.
