Bucking the NRA, Florida governor signs landmark gun control legislation

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping $400-million school safety bill on Friday, enacting significant gun control measures in the state for the first time since the GOP took control of the Legislature more than two decades ago.

But the staunch Republican and longtime National Rifle Assn. member did not use his line-item veto authority to remove funding for what many consider the most contentious part of the legislation — a program that allows school employees to bring firearms on campus.

Though Scott has repeatedly opposed the idea of arming teachers since 17 students and instructors were killed last month in a shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., he announced Friday after meeting with the victims' families that he would approve the bill in its entirety.

Standing in front of grieving families who had traveled to Tallahassee from Parkland, Scott thanked two of the parents, Ryan Petty and Andrew Pollack, for walking the Capitol halls and "fighting to get this bill across the finish line."

Source:  latimes