A judge Friday granted a police request to strip a man of his firearms using Florida's new gun law that the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School inspired.The Tallahassee Police Department filed a petition in the morning seeking a court order to remove multiple firearms from Christopher Mark Newhouse Jr. of Tallahassee. Before courthouse workers went home that afternoon, officers had their ruling.
The 21-year-old "poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to himself or others in the near future," Judge J. Lee Marsh of Leon County Circuit Court said. Newhouse has a history of mental illness and making threats to hurt others.
The filing is the first in Leon County, home to state capital Tallahassee, under the new law. Touted by Gov. Rick Scott, the measure gives law enforcement more power to take firearms from people with mental-health problems.
Marsh's order was sent to the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office in the county just south of Tallahassee; Florida Department of Agriculture officials; and Teresa Flury, the Tallahassee police lawyer. Newhouse must appear in court Wednesday where he will have to show that he has surrendered all of his weapons and ammunition.
The 21-year-old "poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to himself or others in the near future," Judge J. Lee Marsh of Leon County Circuit Court said. Newhouse has a history of mental illness and making threats to hurt others.
The filing is the first in Leon County, home to state capital Tallahassee, under the new law. Touted by Gov. Rick Scott, the measure gives law enforcement more power to take firearms from people with mental-health problems.
Marsh's order was sent to the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office in the county just south of Tallahassee; Florida Department of Agriculture officials; and Teresa Flury, the Tallahassee police lawyer. Newhouse must appear in court Wednesday where he will have to show that he has surrendered all of his weapons and ammunition.
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