Republican Florida House of Representatives Bobby Payne, Palatka, and Tyler Sirois, Merritt Island, are cosponsoring HB 1543, which proposes to reduce the minimum age at which a person may purchase, sell or transfer a firearm from 21 to 18. The measure is headed to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee for discussion March 13.
Read More »Gainesville decides not to limit public drinking
Gainesville residents will still be able to possess and consume alcohol in public, after Gainesville City Commissioners voted 4-3 Thursday against reducing the hours when open-container possession and consumption of alcohol is permitted from 2:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Commissioners Harvey Ward, Reina Saco, Casey Willits and Bryan Eastman voted …
Read More »Gainesville community comes together to form a ‘Chain of Peace’
Gainesville residents met at the Bartley Temple United Methodist Church Saturday in conjunction with The Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee on Saturday at 10 a.m. for the community “Chain of Peace” event. Twelve individuals gathered inside the church at 1936 NE Eighth Ave. on Saturday morning with heavy hearts to …
Read More »UF students gather for the five-year anniversary of the Parkland shooting
It’s been five years, but memories of her peers’ screams ringing through the halls of her high school still echo in Rachel Taylor’s mind. Fire alarms blared. Police stormed the school. Lives in Parkland, Florida, changed. While people worldwide celebrated Feb. 14 — the day dedicated to love — Taylor, …
Read More »Gainesville City Commission approves purchase of technology to investigate gun crimes
The Gainesville Police Department will soon have access to technology that can match spent shell casings collected at crime scenes to help solve gun crimes faster and potentially prevent future gun violence. The Gainesville City Commission unanimously approved the purchase of the Brasstrax Acquisition Station for $144,853.
Read More »Gainesville City Commission vows to end gun ‘crisis’ after 3rd Avenue shooting
In the early hours of Thursday morning before the City Commission meeting, a fatal shooting occurred just blocks from City Hall. The Gainesville Police Department says one man, who called 911 reporting he had been shot, was rushed to the hospital. When GPD arrived at the scene in the 200 …
Read More »Advocates stress gun storage practices to prevent unintentional shootings
Editor’s note: This is the final of five articles this week that explore the consequences of unintended shootings in Florida. Click the links here to access the series intro, Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV. Bradley Hulett’s father considers himself a Second Amendment guy. Adam Van Allen …
Read More »Unsecured guns and unintended deaths: A preventable epidemic?
Editor’s note: This is the first of five articles this week that explore the consequences of unintended shootings in Florida. Click the links here to access the series intro, Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV. Schools were closed in Clay County because of Hurricane Irma on Sept. …
Read More »Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee honors four community leaders
The four recipients of the Rosa Parks Quiet Courage award this year are Devondrick Slater, Sheila Payne, Tony Jones and Desmon Duncan-Walker, who were recognized recently for their work in the community that “demonstrates a commitment to the cause of justice, equality and peace.”
Read More »Meet the candidates running for Florida’s 3rd congressional district
Democratic candidate Danielle Hawk is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack for Florida’s 3rd Congressional District. Here is what voters need to know about them as they prepare for Election Day on November 8. WUFT spoke to Danielle Hawk about her campaign but was unable to hear from Cammack …
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