Florida Gov. Rick Scott following school shooting: You must be 21 to buy a gun

CLOSE After the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Gov. Rick Scott unveiled a $500 million plan to address safety in schools. USA TODAY

Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, right, responds to a question from Florida Gov. Rick Scott, back, on gun violence during a meeting at Florida's Capitol, Tallahassee. At left is State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera. (Photo: Scott Keeler, AP)

Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced he will work with state lawmakers to move the age at which people can buy a gun to 21 and ban the purchase or selling of bump stocks.

The plan comes about a week after a gunman with a history of run-ins with law enforcement and mental health issues killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in south Florida.

Raising the gun purchase age from 18 to 21 meshes with President Trump's views but not the National Rifle Association, which rejected the idea Wednesday. However, Trump said Thursday the NRA would back his plan to raise the age to buy a semi-automatic weapon to 21.

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Scott's plan hinges on gun laws, school safety and mental health. Here are the main takeaways of the governor's plan:

A person must be 21 to buy a gun

A ban on bump stocks, which allow a gun to mimic a fully automatic weapon

"Enhanced" criminal penalties for people who make threats to schools, including those made on social media

Expanding mental health resources for children and young adults

Allowing courts to prohibit a mentally ill person from buying or possessing a gun. People found by a court to be at risk to themselves will be stripped of firearms

A law enforcement officer in every school and at least one officer for every 1,000 students

Mandatory active-shooter training in public schools

The governor said he will be working with state lawmakers "aggressively" over the next two weeks to institute his plan. Also on Friday, Florida state House and Senate leaders introduced new school safety measures mirroring the governor's plan.

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"I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who has mental issues to use a gun," he said."I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who is a danger to themselves or others to use a gun."

Scott, a Republican, made the announcement during a Friday press conference, which began with him listing the names of the 17 killed at Stoneman Douglas High.

"Florida will never be the same," he said.

Scott set up his plan by listing the various warning signs related to gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, before he opened fire on Stoneman Douglas High. That included the 39 visits from police, his reputation as a danger to students and an FBI report he was a possible school shooter. Scott said Cruz should have never been able to buy or possess a weapon.

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"'And yet, he was never put on the list to be denied the ability to buy a gun, and his guns were never removed from him," he said.

Scott, a National Rifle Association member, said a "mass takeaway of Second Amendment rights" is "not the answer."

"We all have a difficult task in front of us," he said, "balancing our individual rights with our obvious need for public safety."

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The shooting placed Florida at the center of a reignited national gun-rights debate. Earlier this week, Stoneman Douglas students met with President Trump at the White House, others appeared at a CNN town hall and thousands of students marched in Tallahassee, Florida's capital.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson panned the idea as Scott listening "only to the NRA."

"The governor's plan doesn't do one thing to ensure comprehensive criminal background checks or ban assault rifles, like the AR-15," Nelson said in a statement. "His leadership is weak and by recommending raising the age to 21 he is doing the bare minimum. We need to get these assault rifles off our streets and expand criminal background checks for anyone acquiring a gun."

.@FLGovScott to require 21 y/o minimum age to purchase firearms — Nada Hassanein (@nhassanein_) February 23, 2018

.@FLGovScott - "I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who has mental issues to use a gun" - proposes threefold plan: gun laws, school safety, mental health — Nada Hassanein (@nhassanein_) February 23, 2018

Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Teacher won't carry a gun in class 'ever, ever, ever' | 2:57 What's the answer to stopping school shootings? President Trump thinks it's arming educators. We asked teachers all over the country, this is what they said. USA Today 1 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida school supt. against arming teachers | 3:01 Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie says he is "totally against arming teachers" because "they have a challenging job as it is." (Feb. 23) AP 2 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida governor proposes plan to prevent gun violence | 1:22 After the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Gov. Rick Scott unveiled a $500 million plan to address safety in schools. 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Time 6 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE White House: President opposes 'brand' of shooter drills | 2:24 White House Spokesman Raj Shah sought to clarifiy President Donald Trump's stance of opposing active shooter drills at schools, saying the president opposed "the brand of it." (Feb. 22) AP 7 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Armed police guard schools in N.J. after Florida shooting | 1:25 Armed police guard schools in N.J. after Florida shooting Video provided by AFP Newslook 8 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE 'You're wrong!' Florida Sheriff tells NRA spokeswoman | 1:11 Things got pretty heated between NRA spokeswoman, Dana Loesch, and Broward County Sheriff, Scott Israel, during a CNN Town Hall meeting on gun control. USA TODAY 9 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida sheriff program arms trained teachers | 1:52 A second Florida school is joining a voluntary program to allow staff to bring guns to work. The Sentinel Program lets teachers who have been through rigorous training, even more than required to be a sheriff, carry arms during the school day. (Feb. 22) AP 10 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Mich. Teacher: Arming Us 'Absolutely Ridiculous' | 1:20 The idea of arming teachers is not a popular one among a Detroit-area high school teacher and a handful of her students. The group spoke to the Associated Press outside their school campus on Thursday, describing the idea as "illogical" and "ridiculous." (Feb. 22) AP 11 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Trump pledges to raise minimum age for gun purchases to 21 | 0:55 In a tweet, President Trump announced he will be pushing for Comprehensive Background Checks, raise the age for purchasing guns to 21, and end the sale of bump stocks. Veuer's Sam Berman has the full story. Buzz60 12 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Donald Trump backs hardened schools, not shooter drills | 2:58 President Donald Trump Thursday endorsed tighter background checks for purchasing guns and reiterated his calls for trained teachers to carry guns but said he believes armed shooting drills in school are "a very negative thing." (Feb. 22) AP 13 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE NRA: 'Many in legacy media love mass shootings' | 2:05 NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, addressing a conservative political conference, says "many in legacy media love mass shootings, you guys love it." (Feb. 22) AP 14 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Union: No to arming teachers | 1:37 America's largest teacher's union says Pres. Donald Trump's call to arm teachers to protect schools from violence won't work. Trump tweeted Thursday morning "I never said 'give teachers guns' like was stated on Fake News CNN & NBC." (Feb. 22) AP 15 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Mike Pence: School safety will be 'top national priority' | 1:40 Speaking to a major conservative gathering outside Washington, DC, Vice President Mike Pence addressed the recent school massacre in Parkland, Florida and said the administration will make school safety "our top national priority." (Feb. 22) AP 16 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE NRA: We must 'harden' protections at our vulnerable schools | 3:10 NRA chief Wayne LaPierre says supporters of gun control are exploiting the school shooting in Florida to promote an anti-gun agenda. He says the way to "stop a bad guy with a gun," in the nation's schools is to arm a "good guy with a gun." (Feb. 22) AP 17 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE School shooting survivors confront President Trump | 2:37 Hear what students, parents and teachers affected by school shootings told President Donald Trump. USA TODAY 18 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Voices: How gun control advocates are creating change | 3:22 With every mass shooting, positions on gun control seem to harden more with no major breakthroughs. These advocates are accelerating efforts to bypass the system and create change at the community level. USA TODAY Opinion 19 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Students get emotional in talks with Trump | 1:38 Students and parents are delivering emotional appeals to President Donald Trump to act on school safety and guns after last week's school shooting. (Feb. 21) AP 20 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Trump considers concealed carry for teachers | 2:06 President Donald Trump says he's considering backing proposals to promote concealed carrying of weapons by trained school employees to respond to campus shootings. (Feb. 21) AP 21 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE GOP congresswoman claims many Mass Murderers 'end up being Democrats' | 1:04 Most mass shooters are Democrats…that’s what one Republican Congresswoman told a radio station in upstate New York. Veuer's Nick Cardona has that story. Buzz60 22 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Toomey eyes reviving gun background check bill | 2:00 Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania says he'll probably reintroduce legislation to expand background checks on gun purchases, but that it may require changes for him to do so. (Feb. 21) AP 23 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Sheriff, NRA spokeswoman clash at CNN town hall | 1:52 NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch appeared on a CNN Town Hall on guns and said law enforcement could have done more to stop the Florida school shooting. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said Loesch had her facts wrong. (Feb. 22) AP 24 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Angry questions at CNN town hall on guns | 2:35 At a town hall held by CNN in Sunrise, Florida, on Wednesday night, thousands of angry students, teachers and parents booed Republican Sen. Marco Rubio when he indicated that he would not support an assault-weapons ban. (Feb. 22) AP 25 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Students across the U.S. hold protest walkouts over gun violence | 0:25 In a wave of demonstrations reaching from Arizona to Maine, students at dozens of U.S. high schools walked out of class Wednesday to protest gun violence and honor the victims of last week’s deadly shooting in Florida. Time 26 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Store that sold gun to Florida shooter closes its doors | 1:04 The gun store where Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz legally bought his AR-15 rifle has closed down for good Friday, with the former owners now being in favor for more restrictive gun control legislation. For more on the story here is Zachary Devita. Buzz60 27 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Douglas Students Petition Florida Lawmakers | 3:21 Over 100 students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school made in person visits to their state representatives for conversations on gun control. Some were willing listeners, others were not. (Feb. 21) AP 28 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Passionate pleas for tougher gun laws in Florida | 3:35 Several thousand people rallied outside the Florida Capitol building giving passionate pleas to legislators to pass tougher gun laws and pledging to vote out officials supported by the NRA. (Feb. 21) AP 29 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida Sen. Bill Nelson urges change in gun laws | 2:13 Florida Sen. Bill Nelson told reporters that he's continuing to work for changes in gun laws. He said the Florida Legislature also bears some responsibility, adding they could outlaw assault weapons in the state. (Feb. 16) AP 30 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Maryland students head to Capitol in call for gun control | 2:43 Hundreds of Maryland high school students are ditching class and rallying at the U.S. Capitol in support of stronger gun control. (Feb. 21) AP 31 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Fla. House declares porn public health risk, denies assault rifle ban | 0:50 The Florida House of Representatives declared pornography a public health risk, just minutes after rejecting a motion to consider a bill that would ban assault rifles. Veuer's Sam Berman has the full story. Buzz60 32 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE President Trump on move to ban bump stocks | 1:22 President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he signed a memorandum directing Attorney General Jeff Sessions to propose regulations that would ban some gun accessories, including so-called “bump stocks." Time 33 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE AP Explains: Fla. Lawmakers Focus on Gun Debate | 1:57 The Florida school shooting has put pressure on the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to consider a sweeping package of gun-control laws in a state that has resisted firearms restrictions for decades. AP Reporter Gary Fineout explains. (Feb. 20) AP 34 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE NJ Gov. Phil Murphy eyes regional approach on guns | 1:57 Responding to last week's massacre in Florida, New Jersey Gov. (D) Phil Murphy called for a federal ban on military-style assault rifles and said if Congress doesn't take action on gun violence, he'll promote a regional approach to the issue. AP 35 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Trump proposes ban of rapid-fire gun devices | 1:23 President Donald Trump says he's signed a memo directing the Justice Department to propose regulations to "ban all devices" like bump stocks used in last year's Las Vegas massacre. (Feb. 20) AP 36 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida students rally to change gun laws | 1:11 Dozens of students lined the streets outside their high school in Plantation, Florida to protest gun laws in the wake of last week's deadly shooting in Parkland. (Feb. 19) AP 37 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Jimmy Kimmel makes tearful plea to Donald Trump for gun control | 1:18 Late night host Jimmy Kimmel gave a tearful plea for President Trump to pursue gun control following the shooting at a Parkland, Florida school. Nathan Rousseau Smith has the story. Buzz60 38 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Column: Get the numbers right on school shootings | 1:41 No, there have not been 18 school shootings already this year. Misleading stats make finding a solution to the problem of gun violence that much harder, says David Mastio, deputy editorial page editor. USA TODAY Opinion 39 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida Shooting Survivors Protest NRA | 1:51 Dozens of students and parents from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School convened at a park near the Parkland school. The crowd held signs calling for stricter gun control laws and called out politicians for accepting money from the NRA. (Feb. 18) AP 40 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Fla. Senator demands action after mass shooting | 3:14 Democratic Senator Bill Nelson demands Congressional action in the wake of a southern Florida high school shooting that kiled 17 Tuesday. (Feb. 15) AP 41 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida students protest against gun violence | 1:13 Several dozen students from South Broward High School took a public stand against gun violence Friday and for gun control. (Feb. 16) AP 42 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Fla. Gov. Rick Scott vows to keep mentally ill from guns | 2:29 Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he'll sit down with state leaders and work on how they can make sure people with mental illness aren't able to get guns. (Feb. 15) AP 43 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Why AR-15-style rifles are so common in mass shootings | 1:32 AR-15-style rifles have been used in multiple mass shootings in recent years, including the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. See why. USA TODAY 44 of 45 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING REIGNITES FIERCE GUN CONTROL DEBATE Florida school shooting fuels calls for #GunReformNow | 2:04 The deadly shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school is prompting renewed calls for more gun control. USA TODAY 45 of 45 Last VideoNext Video Teacher won't carry a gun in class 'ever, ever, ever'

Florida school supt. against arming teachers

Florida governor proposes plan to prevent gun violence

#BoycottNRA: Bank and car rental giants are cutting ties with the NRA

White House: Arming teachers 'very serious' idea

President Trump suggests giving teachers bonuses for carrying guns

White House: President opposes 'brand' of shooter drills

Armed police guard schools in N.J. after Florida shooting

'You're wrong!' Florida Sheriff tells NRA spokeswoman

Florida sheriff program arms trained teachers

Mich. Teacher: Arming Us 'Absolutely Ridiculous'

Trump pledges to raise minimum age for gun purchases to 21

Donald Trump backs hardened schools, not shooter drills

NRA: 'Many in legacy media love mass shootings'

Mike Pence: School safety will be 'top national priority'

NRA: We must 'harden' protections at our vulnerable schools

School shooting survivors confront President Trump

Voices: How gun control advocates are creating change

Students get emotional in talks with Trump

Trump considers concealed carry for teachers

GOP congresswoman claims many Mass Murderers 'end up being Democrats'

Toomey eyes reviving gun background check bill

Sheriff, NRA spokeswoman clash at CNN town hall

Angry questions at CNN town hall on guns

Students across the U.S. hold protest walkouts over gun violence

Store that sold gun to Florida shooter closes its doors

Passionate pleas for tougher gun laws in Florida

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson urges change in gun laws

Maryland students head to Capitol in call for gun control

Fla. House declares porn public health risk, denies assault rifle ban

President Trump on move to ban bump stocks

AP Explains: Fla. Lawmakers Focus on Gun Debate

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy eyes regional approach on guns

Trump proposes ban of rapid-fire gun devices

Florida students rally to change gun laws

Jimmy Kimmel makes tearful plea to Donald Trump for gun control

Column: Get the numbers right on school shootings

Fla. Senator demands action after mass shooting

Florida students protest against gun violence

Fla. Gov. Rick Scott vows to keep mentally ill from guns

Why AR-15-style rifles are so common in mass shootings

Florida school shooting fuels calls for #GunReformNow

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