TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement in response to House Republicans advancing two dangerous bills that will further undermine the state’s already weak gun safety laws. HB17 will reopen the deadly “Charleston Loophole,” which allows firearm sales to proceed after three business days even if a background check is not complete, and HB1223 which would lower the minimum age which person may purchase firearm from 21 to 18.
“The last thing we need is to weaken our gun laws, but once again, Florida lawmakers are dedicating their legislative efforts to putting politics ahead of the safety of Floridians,” said Jennifer Massey, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Instead of playing political games that have cost Floridian lives and cowering to the gun lobby, state lawmakers should start focusing on advancing a common sense gun safety agenda.”
“Today’s actions by extremist lawmakers could now leave Florida even less safe, which says a lot given that our state has the 20th-highest rate of gun violence in the country,” said Sari Kaufman, a survivor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and a volunteer leader with the Yale University Students Demand Action chapter. “We’re keeping tabs on every single elected who supports gutting the gun safety laws we passed after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and when November rolls around, we’ll vote them out.”
People aged 18 to 20 are three times more likely to commit gun homicides than those 21 and older.
In an average year, nearly 3,000 people are killed by guns in Florida, and over 5,200 more are shot and wounded. Gun violence costs Florida $40.3 billion each year, of which $875.9 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Florida is available here.
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