Massullo files bill to broaden penalties for threats by firearms and other weapons

Last year the Florida Legislature increase penalties for those making threats using firearms or other weapons.  Earlier this year Citrus County Schools and the Sherriff’s Office were surprised to learn that a person who threatened to “shoot up” one of our schools could not be charged, because the threat was made verbally, even if the threat was made to a law-enforcement officer. The law did permit the person could face felony charges under state law for making “written threats to kill” or making a false bomb threat.  See Citrus Chronicle article, Floral City man who made threats to ‘shoot up’ school, https://tinyurl.com/yxd7args. Immediately following the situation, the Superintendent of Schools, the School Board, and our local State Legislators Rep. Massullo and Senator Simpson spoke out about improvements that needed to be made to the law.

On October 8, 2019, State Representative Dr. Ralph Massullo filed HB 311, a bill simply entitled ‘Threats’. This bill if passed and signed into law, prohibits threats to use firearm or weapon with specified intent. This bill would strengthen the law and allow law enforcement to act on creatable threats made which results in better protection of our students, staff and schools.

Thank you Rep. Massullo for once again understanding the needs of our community and working to pass common-sense legislation to do what is best for our students and schools.

Follow this link to read the filed bill: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0311__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0311&Session=2020

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