JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Congressional lawmakers continue to work towards action in response to the Uvalde school shooting.
One area that seems to be garnering bipartisan interest is red flag legislation, which would allow for a judge to order firearms be removed from a person if they’re deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.
Florida has its own red flag law that was passed in the wake of the Parkland shooting.
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That law has resulted in nearly 9,000 risk protection orders being granted statewide over the past four years.
Here in Florida, only law enforcement can petition a judge to issue a risk protection order and have firearms confiscated from an individual.
Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL 6th District) told us he could potentially support legislation like that at the federal level.
However, in some other states family members are also afforded that ability.
Waltz said any red flag legislation he’d support would have to be limited to law enforcement.
RELATED: Florida’s red flag law used nearly 9,000 times to date, 254 times in Duval
“Red flag legislation, I think there absolutely has to be due process there. We can’t have someone just making an allegation and then start taking someone’s constitutional right to defend themselves. And so I think we’ll look at all of those things going forward, but what it can’t be is starting to ban the 99.9 percent of law-abiding American citizens from their constitutional right to defend themselves,” said Waltz.
Congressman Al Lawson (D-FL 5th District) issued a statement following the Texas shooting calling for gun reform.
“As elected officials, we must do better in protecting the American people. Responsible gun safety legislation is needed now, more than ever before,” Lawson said in part.
Though the likelihood of gun control legislation clearing the US Senate is slim to none.
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