>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICTS DRAW UP RULES ON HOW TEACHERS SHOULD NAVIGATE THE STATE'S NEW PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION LAW, LABELED AS DON'T SAY GAY BY OPPONENTS.

AND SHOULD FLORIDA BE A MODEL FOR THE NATION ON GUN LEGISLATION, FOLLOWING ANOTHER DEADLY STATE OF SHOOTINGS IN AMERICA?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, BRENDAN BYRNE FROM 90.7 WMFE.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, BRENDAN.

>>THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>AND DESIREE STENNET FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, DESIREE.

>>HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>>APPRECIATE IT, GUYS.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST, TONIGHT, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FLORIDA'S PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATIONAL LAW, OPPONENTS DUB DON'T SAY GAY.

HB 1557 IS NOW IN EFFECT AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE WORKING TO DEVELOP NEW RULES AHEAD OF THE RESUMPTION OF CLASSES NEXT MONTH.

>>ORANGE COUNTY, CENTRAL FLORIDA'S BIGGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NATION, SAYS IT HAS YET TO REVISE ITS POLICIES.

IT WAS FORCED LAST WEEK TO CLARIFY GUIDANCE FROM ITS LEGAL TEAM.

THAT SPARKED QUESTIONS FROM THE LOCAL TEACHERS UNION, WHICH ASKED WHETHER IT WAS TRUE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT TEACHERS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISPLAY PRIDE FLAGS OR PHOTOS OF THEIR SAME SEX PARTNERS.

>>OCPS SAYS IT'S TRIED TO ALLAY MANY OF THE UNION'S CONCERNS OVER HB 1557.

IN AN EMAIL TO THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, THE OCPS LEGAL DEPARTMENT SAYS SEVERAL CLAIMS INVOLVING ADVICE GIVEN TO ADMINISTRATORS AND PRINCIPALS AT A CAMP LEGAL SEMINAR ARE NOT ACCURATE.

THE EMAIL DOES CONFIRM THOUGH, THAT RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED ANY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL MADE AVAILABLE TO K THROUGH THREE STUDENTS BE REVIEWED FOR THE PROHIBITED CONTENT OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, SAFE SPACE STICKERS BE REMOVED FROM K THROUGH THREE CLASSROOMS SO THAT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION DOES NOT INADVERTENTLY OCCUR ON THE PROHIBITED CONTENT OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY.

IT ALSO CAUTIONS TEACHERS NOT TO WEAR CLOTHING THAT MAY ELICIT DISCUSSIONS THAT COULD BE DEEMED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY.

OCPS SAYS IT'S GOING THROUGH A MOTION TO DISMISS FILED BY THE STATE IN A LAWSUIT TO GAIN HB 1557 BROUGHT BY EQUALITY FLORIDA.

IT SAYS THE DOCUMENT SHEDS LIGHT ON THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S PARAMETERS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE LAW AND WILL HELP THE DISTRICT DRAW UP ITS GUIDANCE FOR TEACHERS AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING SEMESTER.

I SPOKE LAST WEEK WITH MARIA VAZQUEZ, CHOSEN BY THE DISTRICT TO BE ITS FIRST EVER HISPANIC SUPERINTENDENT, WHEN BARBARA JENKINS RETIRES LATER THIS YEAR, >>I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR BOARD HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR IN OUR SUPPORT OF ALL CHILDREN.

AS SUPERINTENDENT, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CHILD THAT WALKS THROUGH OUR DOORS, REGARDLESS OF YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR RACE, YOUR GENDER.

AND I'VE ALWAYS LED THAT WAY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THAT WAY AND FIGHT FOR ALL CHILDREN.

>>DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHAT POLICIES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS IF TEACHERS DON'T FEEL EMPOWERED OR FEAR THAT THEY COULD BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL CHALLENGES?

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT WITH YOUR TEACHERS.

TEACHERS UNION IS VERY CONCERNED.

>>RIGHTLY SO.

AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CLARITY IN THE LAW AND THE LACK OF GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED UP UNTIL THIS POINT.

AND THE STATE SAID THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING GUIDANCE PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL.

AND WE DID.

NOW IT'S A MATTER OF MAKING SURE WE CULL THROUGH ...

I BELIEVE IT'S QUITE A LENGTHY DOCUMENT THAT OUR LEGAL TEAM IS GOING THROUGH, AND MAKING SURE THAT INFORMATION IS OUT THERE, THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT.

>>OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE COMBING OVER THE GUIDELINES, BUT DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHEN SCHOOLS COME BACK?

DO YOU HAVE A SET OF POLICIES IN PLACE?

>>WELL, WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOT REVISED ANY OF OUR EXISTING POLICIES.

WE WERE WAITING ON CLARIFICATION FROM THE STATE.

AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS VOICED BY OUR CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, THEY HAD SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT WE RESPONDED TO.

AND I BELIEVE THOSE ANSWERS ALLEVIATED THEIR CONCERNS, INCLUDING WEARING OF THE FLAGS, WEARING OF THE LANYARDS.

THEY CLARIFIED WHAT THEY MEANT BY INSTRUCTION IN K TO THREE AND THAT HAS ... AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE DECISIONS AND THE GUIDANCE, THE UNION WILL HAVE BREATHED THE SIGH OF RELIEF.

>>WELL, WE WANTED TO GET THE UNION'S RESPONSE TO ALL OF THIS.

LAST WEEK, I SPOKE WITH WENDY DOROMAL ON HER LAST DAY AS PRESIDENT OF THE ORANGE COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

SHE'S STAYING ON FOR A WHILE AS A CONSULTANT.

SHE SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE CLEAR GUIDANCE ON WHAT CONSTITUTES INSTRUCTION.

>>TEACHERS ARE STILL SAYING THEY WANT CLEAR WRITTEN INSTRUCTION ON HOW THEY'RE TO ADDRESS, NOT JUST THAT LAW, BUT THE WOKE LAW WITH THE CURRICULUM FOR SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES, THEY WANT WRITTEN DIRECTION.

BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY ADMINISTRATORS WHO ATTENDED THIS EVENT, THIS CAMP LEGAL, THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED THEMSELVES.

THE PRINCIPALS WERE CONCERNED AND THEY SHARED THESE CONCERNS WITH THEIR TEACHERS.

ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS INSIDE YOUR CLASSROOM, THEY COULD INTERPRET AS INSTRUCTION.

AND I THINK THESE ARE HATEFUL BILLS THAT CAME FROM RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS IN TALLAHASSEE WHO HAVE A WRECKING BALL AIMED AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE MORE SWING.

SO DEFINITELY, THERE NEEDS TO BE CLARIFICATION.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CLARIFICATION, NOT JUST FOR TEACHERS, BUT FOR PARENTS AND EVEN FOR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, >>WENDY DOROMAL THERE.

DESIREE, LET'S START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

THE STATE SAYS HB 1557 ONLY BARS INSTRUCTIONAL, ALTHOUGH THE UNION, AS WE HEARD, SORT OF SEES THAT AS POORLY DEFINED.

HOW ARE OPPONENTS BROADLY SPEAKING, AND THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDING AS THIS LAW TAKES EFFECT?

>>SO YES, OPPONENTS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE TEACHERS, MANY TEACHERS, AS WELL AS LGBTQ RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARE ALL SAYING THAT THIS BILL ... AS MUCH AS THE STATE OF FLORIDA SAYS THAT IT IS NOT MEANT TO ATTACK VULNERABLE LGBTQ STUDENTS OR STUDENTS THAT COME FROM LGBTQ FAMILIES, THE OPPONENTS ARE SAYING THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO.

OF COURSE, LIKE WE JUST HEARD, TEACHERS ARE ASKING FOR CLARITY SO THAT THEY DON'T ACCIDENTALLY VIOLATE THIS LAW.

BUT THE BIGGEST CONCERN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, FROM TEACHERS AND FROM ADVOCATES IS THAT STUDENTS WON'T FEEL SAFE IN CLASSROOMS.

AND THAT IT'LL BE TOO EASY FOR TEACHERS TO UNINTENTIONALLY VIOLATE THESE RULES BECAUSE THEY ARE SO VAGUE.

AND TO HELP WITH THIS, THE WHITE HOUSE IS PLANNING TO CREATE A PORTAL SO THAT PARENTS CAN REPORT INSTANCES OF DISCRIMINATION THAT THE WHITE HOUSE ANTICIPATES WILL COME FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LAW.

>>YEAH.

THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE BEEN PRETTY OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THIS, BRENDAN.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THAT GUIDANCE FROM OCPS' LEGAL DEPARTMENT DURING THAT SEMINAR THAT WE REFERRED TO, THAT FORCED THAT CLARIFICATION FROM THE STATE, FROM THE DISTRICT.

BUT IT SEEMS THE UNION IS STILL CONCERNED, CERTAINLY FROM WHAT WE HEARD THERE.

>>OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE WAS SOME CLARIFICATION.

IT'S STILL VERY VAGUE, AS DESIREE BROUGHT UP, THAT'S VERY CONFUSING.

AND THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, THEIR MAIN GOAL IS TO PROTECT THESE TEACHERS, RIGHT?

AND WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH CONFUSING AND VAGUE GUIDELINES, THAT LEAVES THEM PRETTY VULNERABLE TO LITIGATION.

SO HAVING THESE CLEAR DEFINED, CLEARLY WRITTEN DIRECTION FROM THE DISTRICT IS WHAT THEY'RE CALLING FOR.

AND IT STILL SEEMS LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO COME BY.

>>YEAH.

AND THE DISTRICT TOLD ME THAT THEY FELT THAT BY RELEASING THAT MOTION TO DISMISS FROM THE STATE, THAT WOULD HELP CLEAR UP SOME OF THE CONFUSION.

THE UNION ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT ADDED TO THE CONFUSION.

>>DESIREE, THE OTHER ISSUE THAT SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS BUSINESSES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE NOW FACING IS HOW TO HANDLE ISSUES AROUND RACE.

HB 7, KNOWN AS THE STOP WOKE ACT, IS ALSO BECOMING LAW HERE IN OUR STATE.

REMIND US WHAT SORT OF CONCEPTS THAT LAW PROHIBITS FROM BEING ADDRESSED IN CLASSROOMS.

IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

>>SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE CRUX OF THIS LAW IS THAT TEACHERS CANNOT TEACH HISTORY IN A WAY THAT MAKES INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HISTORIC EVENTS.

>>YEAH.

>>AND BUSINESSES HAVE A SIMILAR INSTRUCTION IN THE WAY THAT THEY OPERATE.

IT SORT OF LIMITS WHAT BUSINESSES CAN DO TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES AND CONDUCT DIVERSITY TRAININGS, IF THOSE TRAININGS MAKE PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR HISTORIC ATROCITIES BECAUSE OF THAT TEACHING.

OF COURSE, THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS LAW IS THE SAME AS THE LAST ONE, IN THAT IT'S SO VAGUE.

SO EVEN IF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS OR BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS AND WANT TO CREATE A MORE EQUAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR EITHER EMPLOYEES OR THEIR STUDENTS, IT'S SO EASY TO VIOLATE THE LAW.

AND THIS LAW EMPOWERS PEOPLE WHO FEEL OFFENDED BY ANY FORM OF TEACHING, TO SUE AND COULD REALLY IMPACT FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITIES AS WELL.

SO NOT ONLY IS IT VAGUE, BUT IT'S ALSO FINANCIALLY PUNITIVE AS WELL.

>>WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LEGAL PART OF THIS PUZZLE.

I MEAN, LIKE HP 1557, BRENDAN, THE STOP WOKE ACT WAS CHALLENGED IN COURT.

A JUDGE THREW OUT MOST OF THE CASE, BUT IS THE LEGAL FIGHT OVER?

>>OH, OF COURSE NOT.

OF COURSE NOT.

YEAH.

THE LEGAL CASE THAT YOU BRING UP, IT WAS A UCF PROFESSOR, A STUDENT, SOME OTHER FOLKS PROFESSIONALS AT THE UNIVERSITY.

AND THAT WAS LARGELY THROWN OUT BECAUSE THE JUDGE SAID IT DIDN'T HAVE STANDING.

AS DESIREE MENTIONED, AS YOU MENTIONED, ALL OF THIS IS VERY CONFUSING.

ALL OF THESE DISTRICTS, ALL OF THESE LAWMAKERS, THESE RULE MAKERS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

AND SO THAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

BUT WE CAN LIKELY ASSUME THAT THESE UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS ARE GOING TO CHALLENGE WHATEVER REGULATIONS THERE ARE, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES HAMSTRING EDUCATING IN THE CLASSROOM.

>>YEAH.

WELL, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE HERE ON NEWSNIGHT, FOR SURE.

YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE STATE'S MOTION TO DISMISS IN THE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO HB 1557 ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN READ IT FOR YOURSELF WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

OKAY.

NEXT TONIGHT, THE CONTINUING BATTLE IN FLORIDA OVER ABORTION.

THE STATE'S NEW 15-WEEK BAN IS NOW IN EFFECT.

A JUDGE HAD RULED THE LAW VIOLATES THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION'S PRIVACY CLAUSE, BUT THE JUDGE'S RULING IS NOW STAYED AS THE STATE APPEALS.

CHABELI CARRAZANA WHO'S COVERING THIS STORY FOR THE 19TH, SAYS PRO-CHOICE ADVOCATES ARE TELLING HER THAT THEY'RE DIGGING IN FOR A PROLONGED BATTLE.

>>SOME OF THESE FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO IN DIFFERENT STATES IN ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, TEXAS, WHERE THEY HAVE COME UP AGAINST ROADBLOCK AFTER ROADBLOCK, AFTER ROADBLOCK FOR YEARS, ZONING REGULATIONS AND COURT BATTLES, THEY ARE USED TO THIS DEMORALIZING ASPECT TO THIS WHERE EVERYTHING ...

I MEAN, FOR YEARS, EVERYTHING'S JUST BEEN PARED BACK AND PARED BACK A LITTLE BIT.

SO, I THINK THERE OBVIOUSLY IS THAT ELEMENT.

THAT DEFINITELY HAS COME THROUGH IN SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD OF, "WE WERE READY FOR THIS.

WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN."

BUT STILL, THE SHOCK OF IT ACTUALLY HAPPENING IS DIFFICULT TO PROCESS.

BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE HEARD FOLKS SAY, "THIS MAKES MY WORK EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

THIS LIGHTS THE FIRE EVEN FURTHER."

AND WE'RE ALSO HEARING THAT FROM OTHER GROUPS THAT PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM BEFORE, LIKE THE FERTILITY WORLD.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGISTS WHO ARE SAYING, "WE HAVE BEEN BEHIND FOR 50 YEARS.

WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN UP AS WE SHOULD HAVE WITH THE ABORTION DEBATE.

AND NOW IS THE TIME, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOBBY AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT THERE."

SO THERE IS SOME MOMENTUM AND THAT'S, I THINK REALLY INTERESTING AND THE SORT OF FINALITY OF THE END OF ROE HAS MADE PEOPLE SORT OF REALIZE, "OKAY, WE NEED TO FIGHT EVEN HARDER."

BUT SURE, OF COURSE.

I MEAN, THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF DEMORALIZATION BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH FOLKS PREPARED, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE FOR THEM THAT THIS HAS ENDED.

>>CHABELI CARRAZANA THERE FROM THE 19TH.

BRENDAN, THE 15-WEEK ABORTION LAW IS NOW IN PLACE IN FLORIDA AFTER THE STATE APPEALED.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

>>SO THE STATE APPEALED, AND THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THEY'RE ASKING TO ACTUALLY FAST TRACK THIS TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT.

SO SKIP THE APPELLATE COURT- >>STRAIGHT TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>>AND GO TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT.

HISTORICALLY, THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT HAS RULED WITH A VERY NARROW DEFINITION OF WHAT FLORIDA'S CONSTITUTIONAL PRIVACY RIGHTS ARE.

SO YOU COULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD RULE IN FAVOR OF THIS LAWSUIT.

>>THEIR OWN PRECEDENT.

RIGHT?

>>RIGHT.

BUT SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE NEW CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT THAT WERE NOMINATED RON DESANTIS.

>>YEAH.

>>SO WE HAVE AN INDICATION THAT THIS MAY GO A DIFFERENT WAY.

NOW, THERE'S ALSO INDICATIONS IN THIS APPEAL THAT THE STATE WANTS THIS TO GO TO THE US SUPREME COURT, BECAUSE THAT DECISION WHICH OVERTURNED ROE V, WADE, THEY ARGUE, BRINGS UP THE NEED FOR THE US SUPREME COURT TO LOOK AT OTHER LAWS THAT THE STATES HAVE LEGISLATED.

>>CERTAINLY, THE WAY THAT THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT HAS INTERPRETED THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION, IT GOES MUCH FURTHER- >>EXACTLY.

>>IN THOSE PROTECTIONS THAN US CONSTITUTION.

DESIREE, YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT HOW CHURCH LEADERS ARE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

THORNY ISSUE, OF COURSE, FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

HOW ARE THEY CHOOSING TO TALK ABOUT IT?

>>SO, IN OUR REPORTING, WE FOCUSED ON MOSTLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH LEADERS, BECAUSE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN THE LEADERS OF THE ANTI-ABORTION MOVEMENT.

AND WE DID TALK TO SOME OF OUR LOCAL PASTORS HERE.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS TWO THINGS.

ONE, THAT IT'S NOT ACROSS THE BOARD.

NOT ALL RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE ANTI-ABORTION.

>>FRANKLY, MANY OF THE ONES THAT WE SPOKE TO SUPPORT ABORTION, ABORTION ACCESS, ABORTION RIGHTS.

BUT WHAT WE DID FIND WAS THAT AMONG THE LEADERS THAT WERE PRO-LIFE, THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE AFRAID THAT A LOT MORE PEOPLE WILL BE HURT BY THIS DECISION TO REPEAL ROE V. WADE.

AND EVEN THE PASTORS THAT WE SPOKE TO WHO IDENTIFY AS PRO-LIFE, WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY WAS THAT AMONG OTHER PRO-LIFE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, NOW IS NOT A TIME FOR CELEBRATION.

WHILE THEY DO SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF THE LAW, WHAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE SAME THING, THAT MANY PEOPLE COULD BE HURT.

MANY PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY AFRAID RIGHT NOW.

MANY PEOPLE COULD USE THE SUPPORT OF THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS THAT THEY TRUST.

AND WHAT THEY'RE FINDING IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE HONEST WITH THEIR CONGREGATIONS, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO BE UNDERSTANDING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T VIEW THE END OF ROE V WADE AS A POSITIVE THING.

AND THEY ARE ALSO AMONG THE PRO-LIFE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING TO ADDRESS THINGS LIKE ADOPTION AND FINANCIAL HELP FOR FAMILIES WHO WILL HAVE MORE CHILDREN THAN THEY INTENDED TO HAVE.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS LIKE THAT, WHICH AS A NATION, I THINK WE'RE WILLFULLY BEHIND ON.

>>INTERESTING.

BRENDAN, FLORIDA'S ABORTION LAW IS BEING CHALLENGED ALSO AS AN INFRINGEMENT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FOR NON-CHRISTIANS.

RIGHT?

>>YEAH.

A SOUTH FLORIDA RABBI IS LEADING THIS CHARGE, SAYING THAT THE LAW INFRINGES ON THE JEWISH FAITH'S BELIEF IN THE RIGHTS TO, OR REPRODUCTIVE- >>REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

>>RIGHTS.

>>YEAH.

>>SO THAT'S THE FOUNDATION OF THAT LAWSUIT.

HE'S ALSO EXTENDING THIS KIND OF INITIATIVE FOR OTHER FAITHS, AND EVEN ATHEISTS, TO TAKE THIS BOILERPLATE AND USE THIS AS A LEGAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT SOME OF THESE ANTI-ABORTION LAWS IN OTHER STATES ON THIS RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION.

>>CERTAINLY, TAKING IT ON AS A CAUSE FOR SURE.

WELL, YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

>>OKAY.

FINALLY, TONIGHT.

AS THE NATION REELS FOR MORE GUN VIOLENCE, WILL CONGRESS GO FURTHER THAN THE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION IT PASSED FOLLOWING THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TEXAS, RECENTLY?

SOME DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN DARREN SOTO, WELCOME THE RECENT LEGISLATION, BUT THINK THE NATION SHOULD PASS STRICTER REGULATIONS, SIMILAR TO THOSE PASSED AFTER THE PARKLAND SHOOTING.

>>OVER 5,800 FLORIDIANS HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO RED FLAG LAWS.

SO WHO KNOWS WHAT UNTOLD LIVES WERE SAVED BY THAT?

IT INCENTIVIZES STATES TO HAVE RED FLAG LAWS LIKE WE ALREADY HAVE.

AND IT ALSO INCENTIVIZE ... INCREASES THE INVESTIGATION FOR FOLKS UNDER 21 BUYING FIREARMS.

AND OF COURSE, THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS THE BIG THING THAT WOULD BOOST FUNDS IN FLORIDA, WHERE SADLY, IT'S 49TH IN THE NATION IN MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING.

>>I MEAN, DO YOU THINK THE MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS SCHOOL SAFETY ACT THAT THEN GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT SIGNED SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION?

>>DEFINITELY.

LOOK, THE LEADING CAUSE DEATH FOR CHILDREN IS GUN VIOLENCE IN THE NATION, THAT THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN IN AMERICA.

PEOPLE NEED TO SEE US COME TOGETHER TO PASS SOME REFORMS, BUT THIS CANNOT BE THE END OF IT.

>>BUT SOME GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES IN FLORIDA CAUTION AGAINST THE NATIONAL MOVE TOWARDS FLORIDA-STYLE LEGISLATION.

NEWSNIGHT'S KRYSTEL KNOWLES HAS BEEN GETTING THAT PERSPECTIVE.

>>SOME ARE CALLING TO BAN SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES AND ALSO HAVING GUN LAWS MORE STRINGENT, SIMILAR TO THE ONES IN FLORIDA.

BUT A GUN OWNER I SPOKE WITH SAYS, SOME OF THESE LAWS ARE PASSING TOO QUICKLY AND CAN HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

MARIA DOCKERY HASN'T ALWAYS OWNED A GUN- >>I OWNED AN ART GALLERY.

>>UNTIL A SERIES OF HOME BREAK-INS IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWED HER HOW VULNERABLE SHE REALLY WAS.

DOCKERY OPENED FEMME FATAL ARMS AND TRAINING IN BREVARD COUNTY, WHICH FOCUSES ON TRAINING WOMEN ON WAYS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

BUT SHE SAYS IN RECENT YEARS, NEW LEGISLATION HAS HAD UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

SHE BELIEVES MANY GUN CONTROL MEASURES ARE NOT THOUGHT THROUGH.

>>IN FLORIDA PRIOR TO THE PARKLAND LEGISLATION, AN 18-YEAR-OLD COULD PURCHASE A LONG GUN LEGALLY.

OKAY.

THEY MOVED IT UP TO 21.

SO WHILE THAT FEELS GOOD ON THE SURFACE, I HAD A MOM WITH TWO KIDS WHO HAD A STALKER.

I SAID, "NO, THE NEW LEGISLATION WON'T ALLOW US TO SELL YOU A FIREARM."

>>PART OF THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT IS A $750 MILLION GRANT TO HELP STATES CARRY OUT RED FLAG LAWS AIMED AT KEEPING GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF PEOPLE DEEMED A RISK TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.

DOCKERY SAYS THERE'S A HUGE RISK FOR SUCH LAWS TO BE ABUSED AND SHE THINKS THEY MIGHT DETER PEOPLE FROM SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.

>>I THINK WHAT WE MAY END UP HAVING OR SEEING HAPPEN IS THAT VETERANS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD, WHO REALLY AREN'T ANY THREAT TO THEMSELVES OR THE COMMUNITY, ARE GOING TO BE FLAGGED AND HAVE THEIR FIREARMS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

MY CONCERN IS THAT NOW OTHER VETERANS WHO DO NEED HELP, AREN'T GOING TO GET HELP, >>BUT DOCKERY DOES SUPPORT SOME PARTS OF THE NEW FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

SHE SAYS THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM, KNOWN AS NICS, IS A HELPFUL TOOL TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE ONE.

SHE'S HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T PASS THE NICS OR THE FLORIDA STATE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM.

WHILE THE NEW FEDERAL LAW DOESN'T BAN PEOPLE UNDER 21 FROM BUYING A GUN, IT WILL ENHANCE THE REVIEW PROCESS, GIVING AUTHORITIES UP TO 10 DAYS TO CHECK JUVENILE AND MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS.

>>FIRST OF ALL, WHAT'S GOING THROUGH MY MIND IS, "HOLY COW, THIS PERSON TRIED TO GET ME TO SELL THEM A GUN.

WHAT DID THIS PERSON WANT TO DO WITH MY GUN?"

>>AS DOCKERY EXPLAINS, SHE'S HAD CUSTOMERS FEARING THEIR EX-PARTNERS CAUGHT UP IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION AND IS GLAD THE SAFER COMMUNITY ACT CLOSES THE BOYFRIEND LOOPHOLE.

>>CONVICTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSERS IN DATING RELATIONSHIPS GET ADDED TO THE NICS SYSTEM FOR FIVE YEARS.

>>SO IF THEY WERE A BOYFRIEND TO THE WOMAN AND NOT MARRIED AND DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, THEY FELL OFF THE SIDES.

SO THEY COULD STILL KEEP THEIR GUNS.

AND WE KNOW THAT STALKERS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE MARRIED TO THE WOMAN TO STALK THEM.

AND A LOT OF WOMEN ARE KILLED BY BOYFRIEND STALKERS.

SO ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE, I THINK WAS A VERY POSITIVE THING IN THE NEW LEGISLATION.

>>KRYSTEL KNOWLES REPORTING THERE.

DESIREE, LET'S START BY TALKING ABOUT A COUNTRY ON EDGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE GUNS ISSUE.

THAT WAS EVIDENT EVEN HERE IN ORLANDO ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

>>YES, IT WAS.

WE HAD THE ANNUAL LAKE EOLA FIREWORKS SHOW THIS PAST MONDAY, AND THE SHOW STARTED A LITTLE LATE.

AND MAYBE FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE FIREWORK STARTED, THERE WAS SOME SORT OF DISTURBANCE IN THE CROWD.

AND THE ESTIMATES OF THAT CROWD WERE CLOSE TO 100,000 PEOPLE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT LAKE EOLA THAT NIGHT.

AND PEOPLE JUST STARTED RUNNING.

AND I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH FRIENDS TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT WAS SCARY.

AND NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING VERY UNSETTLING ABOUT LOOKING UP AND SEEING JUST HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE RUNNING DIRECTLY AT YOU.

OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, WHY THOSE FIRST FEW PEOPLE STARTED TO RUN.

AND THANKFULLY, INJURIES WERE PRETTY MINOR.

ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE HAD MINOR INJURIES.

BUT IT WAS VERY EVIDENT, I THINK, AND AS MUCH OF THE REPORTING HAS SHOWN, THAT PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID AND ON EDGE.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES THAT VERY DAY OF A MASS SHOOTING IN THE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO, NOT TOO LONG AGO IN TEXAS, IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SO I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF EXAMPLES THAT POINT TO WHY YOU CAN BE AFRAID, WHY YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID.

AND WE SAW WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE'S NERVES ARE ON EDGE ON MONDAY AT LAKE EOLA.

>>YEAH.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY SCARY FOR YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS THERE.

BRENDAN, WE HAVE SEEN TALK, HAVEN'T WE, ABOUT HOW FLORIDA'S SORT OF POST-PARKLAND LAWS COULD BE THE NEXT PHASE IN THE GUN CONTROL NATIONALLY.

GUN CONTROL DEBATE.

SORRY, I SHOULD SAY.

>>YEAH.

IF YOU LOOK BACK AT WHAT THOSE LAWS WERE AND WHAT THEY ARE, THEY WERE SWEEPING LAWS.

AND IN TODAY'S POLITICAL CLIMATE, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY WOULD'VE PASSED THE WAY THAT THEY DID.

I MEAN, THEY RAISED THE PURCHASING AGE.

THEY CREATED THIS RED FLAG SYSTEM.

BUT IT WAS A PART OF THE DEBATE AFTER THE UVALDE SHOOTING.

AND THE GUN CONTROL PACKAGE THAT CAME OUT WAS A STRIPPED-DOWN VERSION OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS CALLING FOR.

YOU SEE THOSE RED FLAG LAWS ARE NOW, THERE'S SOME MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THE STATES TO DEVELOP THESE.

BUT THOSE I THINK ARE GOING TO COME UNDER ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY.

AS WE LEARNED FROM THE HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTER, HE GOT PAST ILLINOIS'S RED FLAG LAWS.

SO DEPENDING ON WHAT SIDE OF THE DEBATE YOU'RE ON, YOU COULD SAY, "WELL, WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THESE LAWS."

OR ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU CAN SAY, "WELL, THEY'RE NOT WORKING.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD."

SO I THINK THEY WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER FOR SURE.

>>DESIREE, YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THE GUN VIOLENCE ISSUE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THOSE OFFICERS CAN CONTRIBUTE IN THIS DEBATE OR CAN DO ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE?

>>SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE TRYING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

I THINK THE ENTIRE NATION IS RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHEN, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S SO MUCH OPPOSITION TO CHANGING LAWS, THEIR HANDS ARE LARGELY TIED.

OUR STATE ATTORNEY HERE SAID THAT SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING RESEARCH AND LOOKING AROUND TO OTHER CITIES AND OTHER REGIONS THAT HAVE ADDRESSED THIS IN SOME WAY TO LOOK FOR BEST PRACTICES AND THINGS WE CAN IMPLEMENT HERE.

BUT OF COURSE, THAT COMES WITH A GRAIN OF SALT BECAUSE SHE IS THE STATE ATTORNEY.

SO BY THE TIME- >>MONIQUE WORRELL.

YEAH.

>>YEAH.

MONIQUE WORRELL.

SO BY THE TIME A CASE GETS TO HER, A SHOOTING HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, THE MAYHEM HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.

SO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AS SHE FOLLOWS UP WITH US AND WE SEE SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT SHE HAS GATHERED, HOW MUCH HER OFFICE CAN TRULY DO BECAUSE OF THE TIMING FOR WHEN THEY GET INVOLVED IN SHOOTINGS.

>>AND I'M ALSO CURIOUS TO SEE IF THE RECOMMENDATIONS SHE COMES UP WITH ARE ACTUALLY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER AGENCIES, LIKE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND IF SHE DOES PRODUCE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, HOW RECEPTIVE THOSE AGENCIES, WHO SHE HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER, WILL BE TO MAKING CHANGES.

IT'S KIND OF UP IN THE AIR, BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE.

>>IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT.

MY THANKS TO BRENDAN BYRNE FROM 90.7 WMFE AND DESIREE STENNETT FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THANKS FOR COMING IN GUYS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.