Mass Shooting Law to be Debated by Florida State Legislature

Florida Representative Joe Casello (D-90) has filed a bill to preempt mass shootings by prohibiting behaviors typically antecedent to the shootings.

The bill would prohibit individuals from planning to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.

Per the bill, planning to conduct a mass shooting entails taking two or more actions with the explicitly stated intent to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.

Suspect actions include identifying the location(s) and date(s) for the mass shooting, purchasing weapons or any items to be used during the event, conducting preparatory drills or trainings, and more. 

An individual found guilty of planning to execute a mass shooting or act of terrorism would commit a second degree felony. Second degree felonies can result in capital punishment. 

The bill was filed hours after a deadly shooting in Prague, Czech Republic, garnered international attention.  

Reports explain a student at Charles University opened fire on fellow classmates and professors, injuring more than 20 and killing 14. 

The shooting, which occurred last Thursday, has resulted in the highest death toll among any similar incidents in the Czech Republic. 

While representative Casello’s bill did not directly reference the Prague shooting, its filing immediately following the incident suggests Casello may have been motivated by it.

 Earlier in December, Florida commemorated the four year anniversary of the deadly Pensacola Naval Air Base (NAS) terrorist attack.

US Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fl) filed a bill aimed at holding Saudi Arabia accountable. 

Representative Gaetz’s bill claims Saudi Arabia was negligent in its duty to inform the US of Alshamrani’s extremist beliefs, which he publicly expressed on social media prior to the attack. 

Under Casello’s bill, Alshamrani’s statements and actions before his hateful attack could have constituted grounds to detain and charge him prior to his attack.