TWENTY-THREE DAYS
after Parkland and Uvalde?
What happened in the
Scroll through our interactive Timeline
A 19-year-old kills 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, using an AR-15-style rifle he legally purchased.
A teenager kills 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, using an AR-style rifle he legally purchased days after his 18th birthday.
February 14, 2018
May 24, 2022
Then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, said, "We cannot lose another child in this country because of violence in our schools. We need to have a real conversation about public safety and protecting schools in our state. That is why next week I will be organizing meetings with state and local leaders in Tallahassee to discuss what we must do immediately to keep our schools safe and keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill individuals."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said, "It is our duty as elected officials to evaluate all possible means of making our schools safer to prevent future tragedies and ensure communities across the state — whether they are underserved populations within large cities or rural areas of the state — have the mental health resources needed." Abbott's statement mentions mental health four times, but does not mention guns.
February 15, 2018
May 25, 2022
Day 1
Then-Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat who grew up in Parkland, calls for legislative action instead of task forces.
As Gov. Abbott cites "a problem with mental health illness" in Uvalde, 13 Investigates reports there are more places where people can legally purchase guns in Uvalde than there are mental health providers.
February 16, 2018
May 26, 2022
Day 2
Days after Republican and Democratic lawmakers visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and saw the carnage first-hand, students who survived the shooting - like David Hogg - call on state leaders to act.
Senator Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, whose district represents the Uvalde community, demands Gov. Abbott call a special session on guns.
February 17, 2018
May 27, 2022
Day 3
Then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott addressed a congregation during a Sunday service dedicated to the victims of the Parkland shooting, according to the AP. At this point, there was bipartisan, behind-the-scenes talks of gun control legislation.
February 18, 2018
The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus asks Abbott to call an emergency special legislative session to address gun violence. Thirteen lawmakers demand the session include the passage of laws to “raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21, require universal background checks for all firearm sales, implement ‘red flag’ laws to allow the temporary removal of firearms from those who are an imminent danger to themselves or others, require a ‘cooling off’ period for the purchase of firearms and regulate civilian ownership of high capacity magazines.”
May 28, 2022
Day 4
Then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott announces workshops that will be held "with state and local leaders to discuss ways to keep Florida students safe, including school safety improvements and keeping guns away from individuals struggling with mental illness."
February 19, 2018
Despite calls from Democrats and gun control advocates to cancel the NRA's convention in Houston - about 275 miles east of Uvalde - the event, which was headlined by former President Donald Trump, continued days after the mass shooting. Gov. Greg Abbott canceled his in-person appearance but sent a video message, which was recorded days earlier. In the message, Abbott said there are no gun-related laws that would have stopped "madmen" from committing school shootings.
May 29, 2022
Day 5
Then-Gov. Rick Scott holds a statewide roundtable on school safety at the Florida Capitol. That same day, the AP reports the Florida State House of Representatives voted not to hear a bill banning assault rifles and large capacity magazines.
February 20, 2018
Nearly a week after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders have not taken any action to address any legislative changes that would improve or even address solutions toward more school safety. Meanwhile, during the course of several news conferences after the shooting, the Texas Department of Public Safety acknowledged local police were at the scene for more than an hour before entering the classroom where the gunman killed 19 students and two teachers.
May 30, 2022
Day 6
A school safety bill was submitted for consideration in the Florida Legislature. That day, the AP reports protesters rallied against gun violence on the steps of the old Florida Capitol in Tallahassee and students at schools across South Florida counties participated in walkouts on the one-week anniversary of the deadly shooting.
February 21, 2018
It has been one week since the deadly elementary school shooting. Outside of calls for better mental health, no action has been taken as a result of the shooting. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not called for a special session or committees to propose any legislation to address the shooting and prevent it from happening again.
May 31, 2022
Day 7
Then-Florida Senate President Joe Negron, a Republican, said he supports a comprehensive approach to school safety, adding that he beleives the House and Senate will start considering legislation on the topic soon.
February 22, 2018
Gov. Abbott calls for the creation of special legislative committees to make recommendations so "meaningful action can be made on, among other things, the following topics to prevent future school shootings: school safety, mental health, social media, police training and firearm safety." He announces a $5 million investment to establish a "long-term Family Resiliency Center in Uvalde County" to community members and provide "school-based mental health services for students and staff."
June 1, 2022
Day 8
Source: The Florida Channel
The Florida House and Senate, which was well into its annual 60-day Legislative session when the Parkland shooting happened, are now considering bills that would address not only mental health and hardening schools, but also measures that would restrict gun access to people younger than 21 years old or who are at risk of harming themselves or others.
February 23, 2018
Gov. Abbott says despite making school safety an emergency item during the 2019 legislative session - after 10 people were killed in 2018 following a shooting at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas - this latest school shooting in Uvalde still happened. Abbott asks the Texas Education Agency to "provide ways to make schools safer," including more trained officers on campuses and "weekly inspections of exterior doors" by districts.
June 2, 2022
Day 9
February 24, 2018
Gov. Abbott thanks Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan for creating legislative committees that "will examine and develop legislative recommendations on school safety, mental health, social media, police training, firearm safety and more."
June 3, 2022
Day 10
Source: Twitter
Concerns grow over the response time of officers in the Parkland shooting. Meanwhile, at the state capitol, Democratic and Republican lawmakers continue working to find common ground on gun reforms.
Then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott spends part of the week visiting sheriff’s offices across the state "to push his school safety plan in response to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting," according to The Florida Channel.
February 25, 2018
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not called a special session or proposed any legislative changes to gun laws. No school safety-related laws have been introduced into the Legislature since it is not in session.
June 4, 2022
Day 11
February 26, 2018
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott attends a religious service in Uvalde.
June 5, 2022
Day 12
"Essentially we're getting very, very close," says Florida State Rep. Bill Galvano, who was President-Elect of the Senate as lawmakers considered sweeping gun reforms, including raising the age to purchase any firearm from 18 to 21. "We're under a tight timeframe frankly, but the bills are not closed out ... and I'm sure we'll get a lot more amendments, at least, proposed."
Then-Gov. Rick Scott announces his plan at "keeping guns away from dangerous and violent people." The plan would ban the sale or purchase of bump stocks and allow judges to prohibit a violent or mentally ill person from purchasing or possessing a firearm and raises the age of purchasing a firearm to 21. The plan also enhances criminal penalties for threats against schools.
February 27, 2018
No significant action happened today.
June 6, 2022
Day 13
With one week left in the Legislative session, gun reforms are still under review in the Florida Senate. Then-Gov. Rick Scott said, “I hope everybody will call their House member and Senate member and let them know we have got to get a plan passed that’s going to keep our kids safe." At a news conference broadcasted by The Florida Channel, Scott, an NRA member, said “we shouldn’t be banning specific weapons. We should be banning specific people from having weapons.” He speaks out against arming teachers.
February 28, 2018
June 7, 2022
Day 14
Ryan Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter Alaina, died in the Parkland shooting addresses lawmakers as they hammer out a school safety bill with less than 10 days left in the Legislative session. “This time must be the last time. We can make it the last time if we don’t get mired down in the politics. Let’s secure the schools. Let’s keep guns out of the hands of those that shouldn’t have them. Let’s get mental health initiatives passed. … Let’s set aside our differences and let’s make sure our schools are safe. Florida can lead, with your help,” Petty told lawmakers.
March 1, 2018
June 8, 2022
Day 15
Then-Republican Florida State Sen. Bill Galvano, who was President-Elect of the Senate at the time, said there will be a weekend session where lawmakers will work toward a school safety bill that the House and Governor will agree with. “We have some thinking we’re going too far. Some think we’re not going far enough. Certain interest groups like some components (and) don’t like others. That means, in my opinion, my experience, that we probably have a pretty good piece of legislation. That we’ve hit a balance with competing interests," Galvano said.
March 2, 2018
A Texas House of Representatives investigative committee on the the Uvalde shooting heard invited testimony from four members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, including DPS director Steve McCraw. All testimony happened behind closed doors in executive session.
June 9, 2022
Day 16
During a Saturday session, the Senate continued debating amendments on a public safety bill. Then-Florida Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon said he’s disappointed that additional amendments, including an assault weapons ban, didn’t make it onto the bill. "If this bill is to pass, and again that hasn’t happened yet, then we hope that this is the beginning of a conversation that we have not had in decades," Braynon said in a news conference.
March 3, 2018
June 10, 2022
Day 17
With just a few days left in the legislative session, Florida Democrats and Republicans continue to work toward a school safety bill with gun reforms that both sides can agree on and that the governor will sign.
March 4, 2018
June 11, 2022
Day 18
Florida Senate, led by Republicans, passes the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act 20-18.
March 5, 2018
June 12, 2022
Day 19
Then-Republican Florida State Sen. Bill Galvano listens to lawmakers debate over the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Student Safety Act. (AP photo)
Democratic Florida Rep. Jared Evan Moskowitz gives closing remarks on a school safety bill that, if signed into law, would be the first time in decades the state passes bipartisan gun safety measures. The House continues to spend hours debating the bill.
March 6, 2018
June 13, 2022
Day 20
The Florida House, led by Republicans, passes Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act 67-50. When asked multiple times in a press briefing if he will sign the school safety bill, then-Gov. Rick Scott doesn't provide a direct answer.
March 7, 2018
June 14, 2022
Day 21
Then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott continues to review the school safety bill.
March 8, 2018
June 15, 2022
Day 22
Then-Republican Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-led House and Senate agreed to sign the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act into law, allowing - among other reforms - a judge to temporarily restrict gun access to Floridians who are at risk of harming themselves or others.
March 9, 2018
An investigative committee on the Robb Elementary School shooting met behind closed doors in an executive session to hear "invited testimony from law enforcement authorities and other affected parties related to the facts and circumstances of the events relating to the violent acts, shootings, and murders at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde." As of today, no state bills have been introduced and no Texas laws have been signed as a result of the shooting.
June 16, 2022
Day 23
