Florida Shooter: Breaking Laws And Lives

Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old perpetrator of the 2018 Parkland high school shooting in Florida, broke several laws. Cruz, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, opened fire on students and staff, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others. He was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and held without bond. Cruz's actions sparked widespread debate and scrutiny regarding gun control laws and the response of law enforcement and the school system to numerous red flags exhibited by Cruz prior to the shooting. In the aftermath of the shooting, Florida implemented new gun control measures, including raising the minimum age for purchasing rifles to 21 and enacting a red flag law.

Nikolas Cruz's history of behavioural issues and social media posts

Nikolas Cruz had a history of behavioural issues dating back to preschool. He was eligible for special education services and had an Individualized Education Program (IEP). He was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Cruz was transferred between schools six times in three years in an attempt to address his behavioural problems.

In 2014, he was moved to a school for children with emotional or learning disabilities. Cruz returned to Stoneman Douglas High School two years later but was expelled in 2017 due to disciplinary issues. He was banned from wearing a backpack on campus and was transferred to alternative placement.

The Florida Department of Children and Families investigated Cruz in September 2016 for his Snapchat posts, in which he cut both his arms and expressed his intention to buy a gun. The same year, a school resource officer and two school counsellors suggested that Cruz should undergo an involuntary psychiatric examination. State investigators reported that he had depression, autism, and ADHD, and had a history of suicide attempts. However, psychologist Frederick M. Kravitz later testified that Cruz did not have autism. Despite the red flags, the mental health institution concluded that he posed a "low risk of harming himself or others".

Cruz idolized several infamous mass murderers, such as Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, Seung-Hui Cho, James Eagan Holmes, and Elliot Rodger. He regularly researched well-known mass shootings and shared his obsession with guns and violence on social media. He expressed racist, antisemitic, homophobic, and xenophobic views online.

In February 2017, Cruz legally purchased an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and other firearms after passing the required background checks. He had also drawn swastikas and used racial slurs on his school backpack.

On September 24, 2017, a comment posted by a user named "nikolas cruz" on a YouTube video read, "Im [sic] going to be a professional school shooter." The FBI was notified, but they were unable to track down the individual. On January 5, 2018, the FBI received another tip about Cruz's gun ownership, erratic behaviour, and disturbing social media posts, including the potential of him conducting a school shooting.

Cruz's online activity and social media posts leading up to the shooting raised serious concerns and prompted investigations. His posts included pictures of himself with various weapons, such as knives, shotguns, and pistols. He also made extremist statements, using anti-black and anti-Muslim slurs.

Cruz's history of behavioural issues and disturbing social media activity were significant factors that contributed to the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.

The ease with which Cruz purchased his weapons

Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland high school shooter, legally purchased an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle from a Coral Springs gun store in February 2017, almost a year before he committed the mass shooting. At the time of the purchase, Cruz was 18 years old and had an extensive history of mental health issues, outbursts at school, and violent social media posts.

Despite his history of behavioural issues, Cruz was able to pass the required background check and purchase the firearm without raising any red flags. Michael Morrison, the owner of the firearm store, testified that Cruz had passed the background check and that there were no signs indicating that he planned to carry out a mass shooting.

In the aftermath of the shooting, there was widespread criticism and scrutiny of how Cruz was able to legally purchase the weapons he used. Gun control advocates, families of victims, and politicians expressed frustration at the ease with which Cruz was able to obtain the firearms.

Cruz's ability to purchase the weapons highlights the ongoing debate surrounding gun control legislation and the ease with which individuals can obtain firearms, even with a history of mental health issues and violent behaviour. As a result of the shooting, Florida's gun purchasing laws have since been amended, including raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21 and implementing stricter background check requirements.

The FBI's failure to act on tips about Cruz's intentions

On February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz opened fire at his former high school in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others. In the aftermath of the shooting, scrutiny fell on the FBI, which had received at least two tips about Cruz's intentions.

The first tip came on September 24, 2017, when a YouTube blogger reported a comment made by a user with the name "nikolas cruz," stating, "I'm going to be a professional school shooter." The FBI investigated the comment but was unable to identify the person behind it. The investigation was closed on October 11, 2017.

The second tip came on January 5, 2018, just over a month before the shooting. This tip was provided by someone close to Cruz and included information about his gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, disturbing social media posts, and the potential for him to conduct a school shooting. The FBI admitted that this tip should have been assessed as a "potential threat to life" and forwarded to the Miami Field Office for further investigative steps. However, the tip was not forwarded, and no additional actions were taken.

The failure to act on these tips raised questions about the FBI's handling of the situation and led to an investigation into the actions of its office. The FBI's inability to identify and intervene with Cruz despite receiving warnings about his intentions highlights a critical breakdown in the system aimed at preventing such tragedies.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office's handling of the police response

The Broward County Sheriff's Office received widespread criticism for its handling of the police response to the Parkland High School shooting. The office was criticised for two main reasons: firstly, for not following up on multiple warnings about Cruz despite a lengthy record of threatening behaviour, and secondly, for staying outside the school instead of immediately confronting him.

The office had received at least 45 calls about Cruz, his brother, or the family home between 2008 and 2017. These included warnings that Cruz had threatened to shoot up the school, and that he might be a "school shooter in the making". In September 2016, three people—a sheriff's deputy who worked as a resource officer at Stoneman Douglas, and two of the school's counselors—stated that Cruz should be committed for mental evaluation.

Despite these warnings, Cruz was not stopped from legally purchasing an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle in February 2017. He passed the required background check, and the gun store owner testified that Cruz showed no red flags.

On the day of the shooting, an armed school resource officer of the Broward County Sheriff's Office was on campus when the shooting broke out, and he remained outside between Building 12 and the adjacent Building 7. Captain Jan Jordan ordered deputies to form a perimeter instead of immediately confronting the shooter, which was contrary to their training regarding active shooters.

In the aftermath of the shooting, there were calls for Sheriff Scott Israel to resign, which intensified as more information about the department's inaction was revealed. Israel refused to resign, saying he had "given amazing leadership to this agency" while denying responsibility for the actions of his deputies. However, he was eventually removed from his role by Governor Ron DeSantis, who replaced him with Gregory Tony.

The changes to Florida's gun purchasing laws since the shooting

In the aftermath of the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, several changes were made to Florida's gun purchasing laws. Here are the key modifications:

Minimum Age Requirement

One of the most significant changes was the increase in the minimum age requirement for purchasing firearms. Initially, Florida law permitted individuals as young as 18 to buy guns. However, following the shooting, the minimum age was raised to 21. This change aimed to prevent young adults under 21 from acquiring weapons.

Background Checks and Waiting Periods

Firearm purchasers in Florida are required to undergo background checks to ensure they are law-abiding citizens. These checks are typically conducted by federal firearm dealers and involve verifying identifying and contact information. After the background check is completed, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period before the gun can be released to the purchaser. This waiting period aims to prevent impulsive decision-making and give time for any potential red flags to be identified.

Red Flag Laws

Florida enacted red flag laws, also known as risk protection orders, which empower law enforcement to revoke an individual's firearms if they exhibit any intention to harm themselves or others. This legislation was a direct response to the Parkland shooting, as it could have been used to revoke the shooter's gun collection given his history of threatening behaviour.

Bump Stock Regulations

A 2018 bill created a new regulation that made it a felony to own bump stocks, an accessory that enables a semiautomatic rifle to operate automatically.

Concealed Weapon Licenses

While gun licenses are not required for purchasing or owning a firearm in Florida, they are necessary for concealed weapons. To obtain a concealed weapon license and avoid felony charges for carrying a concealed firearm, individuals must complete several educational courses.

Safe Storage and Handling Practices

Efforts have been made to promote safe practices among licensed gun owners. For example, Florida has started including gun storage safety tips when mailing concealed weapons licenses to residents. Additionally, there is an emphasis on safe handling practices, such as ensuring firearms are securely encased and not readily accessible when transported in a vehicle.

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