Republican legislation that would decouple adoptions from gun ownership gave Democrats a forum Tuesday to lambast the state ban on adoption by gay and lesbian couples.
Republican bills advancing in both houses would prohibit child welfare workers from asking couples who want to adopt children whether they own guns. Sen.Thad Altman of Melbourne, one of the sponsors, said asking people about gun ownership violated their Second Amendment rights.
"That's a private matter," Altman said. "A person has a lawful right to own a weapon."
Democrats did not attack the actual bill. Instead, they floated amendments in both chambers that would repeal the ban on gay and lesbian adoptions. In the Senate, Democratic speakers said the ban was outdated and unconscionable in a state where 3,000 children await adoption and 25,000 kids are in foster care.
"It's a policy grounded in fear and ignorance, not on sound policy considerations," said Sen. Nan Rich, a Democrat from Sunrise who has sponsored bills to repeal the ban for several years.
No Republicans rose to speak for or against the Democratic amendment. During the speeches, several Republicans were away from their desks, holding private conversations on the Senate floor.
Charlie Justice of St. Petersburg, the Senate sponsor of the amendment, withdrew it after the Democrats had their say. Justice said later he had to agree to withdraw the bill or Republican Rules Chairman Alex Villalobos would have objected that the amendment was not germane to the bill, forestalling debate.
Florida is the only state that expressly bans gay men and lesbians from adopting.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement
Advertisement