In anticipation of the 2024 Legislative Session, Senator Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) and Representative Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs) have announced the filing of SB 180 and HB 145, known as “Jaime’s Law.” The legislation, named after 14-year-old Jaime Guttenberg who tragically lost her life in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, aims to address the pressing issue of gun violence. Specifically, Jaime’s Law seeks to close the background check loophole by mandating background checks on all individuals purchasing ammunition. In the current Florida law, those prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm are also restricted from purchasing ammunition. However, a critical loophole exists, allowing vendors to skip conducting background checks on ammunition purchases. This proposed bill strives to close this loophole, ensuring that ammunition does not, once again, fall into the wrong hands.
“Deaths due to gun violence continue to rise dramatically in the United States, surpassing car accidents as the leading cause of death among our children. We must take every possible precaution to save lives. If firearms require a background check, then it stands to reason that the bullets causing harm should undergo the same scrutiny,” stated Senator Tina Polsky.
“As a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and a member of the community directly affected by this tragedy, I am fully committed to preventing such an event from ever happening again. This commitment has driven my consistent sponsorship and advocacy for the passage of ‘Jaime’s Law’ over the past four Legislative Sessions. Twenty-one other states already have some form of background checks in place, with six states specifically mandating background checks for ammunition sales. This bill is a crucial step in the right direction and should garner broad bipartisan support,” emphasized Representative Dan Daley.
“If someone is barred from buying a firearm, they are prohibited from buying ammunition. However, because a background check is not required for ammunition, there is no mechanism to stop prohibited buyers from doing so. We must close this ammunition loophole, and this bill, named after my daughter Jaime who lost her life to gun violence, is a significant stride in that direction. Jaime’s Law will immediately help save lives,” emphasized Fred Guttenberg, a gun reform advocate and father of Jaime Guttenberg.
