Roughed in basically working equidistant bullet code thanks to Brendan,

Mackenzie, and Sophie.

scripts/player.gd

@@ -8,18 +8,25 @@ var shield: int = 0: set = shield_set
 var can_shoot: bool = true
 var is_shooting: bool = false
 var previous_position: Vector2
+var ship_displacement: float
+var travel: float = 0
+var bullet_speed: int = 150
 
 @export var weapon_current : PackedScene
+
 #var weapon_current = load("res://scenes/stock_weapon.tscn")
 var weapon_cooldown = Timer
 var weapon_rate: float = 0.1
 var weapon_timer: float = 0.0
+var weapon_spacing: float = 0.1
   
 @onready var screensize = get_viewport_rect().size
     
 func _process(delta):
   var input = Input.get_vector("left", "right", "up","down")
-  
+  ship_displacement = position.y - previous_position.y
+  travel += bullet_speed * delta + (ship_displacement)
+  travel = clamp(travel, 0, 1.9 * weapon_spacing)
   #TODO: sprite frame change on x axis
   #if input.x > 0:
         #$Ship.frame = 2
@@ -31,9 +38,9 @@ func _process(delta):
         #$Ship.frame = 1
         #$Ship/Boosters.animation = "forward"
   
+  previous_position = position      
   position += input * speed * delta
   position = position.clamp(Vector2(12,12), screensize - Vector2(12,12))
-  
   # Update velocity based on input
   #var direction = Vector2.ZERO
   #if Input.is_action_pressed("down"):
@@ -53,15 +60,20 @@ func _process(delta):
   if Input.is_action_pressed("shoot"):
     print("Spacebar pressed!")
     is_shooting = true
+
   else: 
     is_shooting = false
   
   if is_shooting == true:
-    weapon_timer += delta
-    print(weapon_timer)
-    if weapon_timer >= weapon_rate:
+    if travel > weapon_spacing:
       shoot()
-      weapon_timer = 0.0
+      travel -= weapon_spacing
+        
+    #weapon_timer += delta
+    #print(weapon_timer)
+    #if weapon_timer >= weapon_rate:
+      #shoot()
+      #weapon_timer = 0.0
   
   if is_shooting == false: return
 
@@ -76,31 +88,16 @@ func _on_weapon_cooldown_timeout() -> void:
 
 
 func shoot():
-  
-  #if not can_shoot: return
-  #if can_shoot: 
   var bullet = weapon_current.instantiate()
-  bullet.position = self.position + Vector2(0,-20)
-  previous_position = self.position
+  bullet.position = position + Vector2(0,-20)
+  #previous_position = position
   get_tree().root.add_child(bullet)
   weapon_rate = bullet.shot_data.rate
+  weapon_spacing = bullet.shot_data.spacing
+  bullet_speed = abs(bullet.shot_data.speed)
   #bullet.global_transform = self.global_transform
   prints(bullet.shot_data.shot_name, "weapon fired") #Print which weapon is firing
   #weapon_cooldown = $WeaponCooldown
   #weapon_cooldown.wait_time = bullet.shot_data.cooldown
   #weapon_cooldown.start()
   #can_shoot = not can_shoot
-    
-
-
-
-#I track the vertical distance the last bullet traveled relative to the ship:
-#
-#travel += bulletSpeed*dt + (Ship.y - prevShipY)
-#set prevShipY to Ship.y
-#
-#when travel > spacing -> fire bullet and 
-#
-#set travel -= spacing
-#
-#(where spacing is the distance you want bullets to be apart, in pixels)

scripts/player_shot.gd

@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ extends Resource
 @export var rate: float = 0.1
 @export var cooldown: float = 0.25
 @export var sprite: Texture2D = preload("res://graphics/shot.png")
+@export var spacing: float = 50

scripts/stock_weapon.gd

@@ -7,15 +7,7 @@ extends Area2D
 
 
 func _process(delta):
-  var spacing: int = 100
-  var travel: float
-  travel += shot_data.speed * delta + (player.position.y - player.previous_position.y) 
-  player.previous_position.y = player.position.y
-  
-  if travel > spacing:
-    print("travel is greater than spacing!")
-    position += shot_data.speed * delta  # This works normally
-    travel -= spacing
+  position.y += shot_data.speed * delta  # This works normally  
   
 func _on_visible_on_screen_notifier_2d_screen_exited() -> void:
   queue_free()