Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Happy To Have Helped Defeat Dangerous Gun Legislation

Posted on

The early failure of three proposed bills that would have drastically loosened state gun laws, including one that would have allowed people to bring weapons into a courthouse, is good news for Florida residents and visitors. “No” votes from two Republican senators reinforced that some state legislators are willing to break party lines to vote responsibly.
The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence is proud of its work in Tallahassee and across the state to help defeat the proposed legislation and will continue to fight for sensible gun laws, including those that would require universal background checks and a ban on the sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
“These bills were given a fair hearing and failed,” said Patricia Brigham, Coalition co-chair and 1st vice president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “This is further proof that legislators are listening to voters who do not want irresponsible laws that would continue the gun lobby’s push for ‘guns everywhere.’ It is a victory for public safety.”
The bills were voted down in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) who sponsored two of the bills, just the latest of the proposals he has backed to loosen gun laws in recent years.
In addition to the courthouse-carry bill, another would have allowed concealed carry permit holders to bring guns onto private school campuses with religious institutions on property. The third would have reduced penalties for permit holders who temporarily open carry.
Republican Sens. Anitere Flores and Rene Garcia, both of South Florida, crossed party lines to vote against the private-school and courthouse-carry bills. Garcia voted for temporary open carry, which failed due to a tie vote.
“At a moment when our country is reeling amidst an epidemic of gun violence, Sen. Steube’s gun policy priorities would have allowed more people to have more guns in more places,” said Hannah Willard, senior policy director for Equality Florida. “We applaud the senators who stood on the side of common sense and rejected these dangerous proposals, and we call upon the legislature to take up gun violence prevention policies that would actually make our communities safer.”
Florida PTA Legislative Chair Angie Gallo stressed safety for our children. “The Florida PTA believes that protecting our children and youth from gun violence is paramount and we believe that the safest learning environment, one that is conducive to the highest level of student achievement, is a gun-free environment,” she said. “We applaud the senators who sent a clear message that guns do not belong on any property where a school exists.”
The Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence was created by the League of Women Voters of Florida after the Pulse Nightclub massacre to promote smart gun legislation. It has grown to include more than 120 local, state and national organizations and includes such diverse groups as the Hispanic Federation, Interfaith Council of Central Florida and Doctors for America.

Legislators Unveil Legislation Targeting Assault-Style Weapons

Posted on

State Sen. Linda Stewart and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith unveiled proposed legislation to ban the sale of assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines in Florida at a news conference Wednesday morning held by the Florida Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence.
Stewart and Smith stressed that when they introduced similar bills last year, the legislature gave it no discussion and no hearing.
“They said it’s just too early to talk about limits on assault weapons,” she said, noting it closely followed the Pulse nightclub shooting and that we’re now on the heels of the Las Vegas mass tragedy.
“I say it’s not too early. It’s too late,” Stewart said.
Smith echoed the sense of urgency. “We need bold action once and for all to address the public health crisis that is gun violence,” he said.
Pointing to the LBGTQ people of color who were killed and injured at Pulse, he asked, “Do their lives not matter?”
On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed and 58 wounded at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Sunday night, 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured at a concert in Las Vegas.
Patricia Brigham, Co-Chair of the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, said in kicking off the news conference Wednesday that we are not deterred by the lack of legislators’ action so far.
“America has become a battlefield,” said Brigham, who is also 1st Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
Angel Santiago, Jr., who was wounded at Pulse, told the dozens attending the news conference that he’s not against the Second Amendment but said we can’t let mass shootings become our new normal and urged everyone to contact their legislators and plead for the proposed ban.
“I’m outraged that the sale (of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines) hasn’t been banned,” said Myra Alvear, who lost her daughter Amanda in the Pulse massacre.
“Do this not for me,” Alvear said. “Do it for our country.”
The Rev. Bryan Fulwider, chairman of the Interfaith Council of Central Florida, said thoughts and prayers are not enough.
“They’re nice. I think thoughts and prayers are good,” said Fulwider, who is also one of WMFE’s Three Wise Guys of “Friends Talking Faith”. “It would be nice if some of our state legislators try it,” he said, stressing that the big question in mass shootings is not “why” or “what” but “how,” including, “How have we collectively allowed a world of madness to emerge?”
​
Before the Coalition’s’ news conference, Equality Florida’s Senior Policy Director Hannah Willard said, “When tragedy strikes, thoughts and prayers will never be enough. After the Pulse massacre, we promised to #HonorThemWithAction through passing common sense gun policy that will keep all of our communities safe. We now promise to hold Las Vegas in our hearts as we continue our work to uproot violence wherever it exists.”
​
David Moran, Orlando Co-Director of Gays Against Guns, added, “These are weapons of war. Allowing their sale makes no sense and only enables more bloodshed and suffering. Such senseless, mass gun violence with assault weapons is not inevitable, it’s entirely preventable. Our elected officials must take a stand and say no more. Not ever again.”
The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, created by the League of Women Voters of Florida, promotes smart, common-sense gun legislation and helped set the course for Stewart and Smith’s proposed bills. It includes more than 100 non-partisan organizations dedicated to ensuring responsible gun policy, including such diverse groups as the Campaign To Keep Guns Off Campus, Hispanic Federation, Interfaith Council of Central Florida, Florida PTA, and Doctors for America. 

Coalition Questions Judge Impartiality

Posted on

On September 15, 2017 Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal Judges Clay Roberts and Kemmerly Thomas attended a Friends of the NRA fundraiser in Tallahassee and were listed as paid table sponsors on the event program. The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence questions the ability of these judges to remain impartial on any future gun related case brought before them based on their involvement in this fundraiser.
Florida’s Code of Judicial Conduct states that judges “shall not use or permit the use of the prestige of judicial office for fundraising or membership solicitation.”
“This event was not related to court or legal matters. It was a fundraiser for a special interest group. It is of the utmost importance that members of the bench show no sign as to what could be taken as a lack of neutrality,” said Patti Brigham, Coalition Co-Chair.
The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence is a group of over 100 nonpartisan organizations dedicated to ensuring responsible gun policy in the state.

Sen. Farmer Outlines Proposed Bill To Close Background Check Loophole

Posted on

Sen. Gary Farmer, D-Fort Lauderdale, on Thursday outlined his proposed bill to close the “mile-wide” background check loophole at gun shows during a news conference hosted by the Florida Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence.fl-coalition-to-prevent-gun-violence-fcpgv
“What does this bill do? It requires all firearm sales be conducted by a licensed firearms dealer,” Farmer said.
“If you are a domestic violence offender, if you are someone with a checkered criminal past, if you are someone who is mentally unstable, what are you going to do? You’re going to wait for a gun show, where there is no background check. That is simply wrong.”
Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, has introduced similar legislation in the Florida House.
The Florida Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence is committed to fighting the plethora of dangerous gun bills that have been filed and put our residents in certain danger. Part of the battle is exposing the NRA’s lobbying efforts to influence legislation.
“The time has passed when the NRA in Florida goes without significant challenge,” said Patti Brigham, co-chair of the Coalition and 1st vice president of the Florida League of Women Voters. “Recent polls have shown that the majority of Floridians favor responsible gun legislation. We will continue to remind our lawmakers that they were elected to represent the voters, not special interest groups.”
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, acknowledged there’s no easy answer to the epidemic of gun violence in our city, state, and nation.
“No single proposal can be the end-all solution to gun violence,” he said. “But we reject the idea that the way to stop gun violence is with more guns. That just doesn’t make sense, and it’s not the opinion of a majority of Floridians. It’s the opinion of the gun lobby.”
Equality Florida is also a vocal proponent of gun safety legislation and a Coalition partner. Hannah Willard, its Public Policy Director, applauds Farmer and Antone’s efforts.
“More guns should never be the solution to gun violence, and we are eager to see this common-sense policy become law in Florida to keep all of our communities safe,” she said.
Angie Gallo, the Florida PTA’s legislative chair, agrees.
“The Florida PTA firmly believes that we need common-sense gun legislation in the state of Florida that will protect our children and youth from gun violence,” she said.
In light of the recent gun violence tragedies in our state, leaders in Tallahassee can no longer ignore the mandate they have to keep their residents safe, said Carol Rescigno, President of the Brady Campaign’s Sarasota Chapter.
“I commend Sen. Farmer and the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence for the recent introduction of this bill to expand Brady background checks to all gun sales in Florida,” she continued. “There’s no question states that have expanded background checks are safer for citizens and law enforcement alike.”
The Coalition was created by the Florida League of Women Voters after the Pulse massacre that killed 49 people and left more than 50 injured. It includes such diverse groups as the Florida PTA, Hispanic Federation, National Council of Jewish Women, and the Interfaith Council of Central Florida.
“As an Orlando native I can say with confidence that we have found power in our pain, and within a matter of just a few days, this coalition was launched,” said Anna Eskamani, senior director of public affairs and communications at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. “Today over 120 non-partisan and non-profit organizations are standing in solidarity, not just with a unified voice, but also with a unified vision, to reduce and prevent gun crimes, injuries, and deaths.”

Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Blasts Irresponsible Concealed Carry "Everywhere" Bills

Posted on

The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence strongly opposes newly filed proposals that would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry handguns into bars, police stations, jails, courthouses, polling places, colleges, and professional sporting events.
The bills, filed by Sen. Dennis Baxley R- Lady Lake and Rep. Don Hahnfeldt, R-The Villages, would also allow the state’s 1.7 million permit holders to carry their weapons at Florida’s seaports. The proposals follow Sen. Greg Steube‘s flurry of firearm legislation that includes the open carry of guns in public.
“Sen. Baxley has taken the notion of guns everywhere and thrown in the kitchen sink.” said Patti Brigham, coalition co-chair and 1st vice president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “The idea of allowing permit holders to take their guns into bars is absurd – and incredibly dangerous. And just why would we want permit holders to take guns into polling places? These gun-happy legislators have gone too far. They are endangering the public, not protecting it.”
“Allowing guns on campus is not just incredibly short-sighted, it’s potentially lethal for college students, professors, and visitors,” said Andy Pelosi, executive director of The Campaign To Keep Guns Off Campus and co-chair of The Florida Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence. “There’s a very good reason that college and university administrators and security officials are adamantly opposed to the idea. Continuing to expand concealed carry places all of our residents at risk. If these bills pass, it’s not a matter of if an innocent person is killed or injured, but when.”
The Coalition is made up of more than 120 local, state, and national organizations and includes such diverse groups as Equality Florida, Hispanic Federation, Florida PTA, National Council of Jewish Women, and the Interfaith Council of Central Florida.

Lawmakers Unveil Gun-Safety Legislation That Targets Assault-Style Weapons

Posted on

fl-coalition-to-prevent-gun-violence-fcpgvProposed legislation to ban assault-style weapons in Florida will be unveiled this afternoon at a news conference held by the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
Sen. Linda Stewart and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith are introducing the bills, which also include banning large ammunition feeding devices.
“Assault weapons are the gold standard for mass murder. They are weapons of war, designed for war and have no place on our streets or in civilian hands,” said Smith. “We all have the right to defend ourselves and our families with a firearm, but nobody needs military-style assault weapons to do it.”
Pointing a finger at the gun lobby and what he called its “stranglehold on Tallahassee and their extreme agenda,” he added, “It’s time we take back the conversation with a bold, comprehensive and common-sense approach to gun safety. This legislation is just the beginning.”
“If not now, when?” asks Stewart. “We don’t need any more tragedies like Pulse.”
The bills target the type of weapon used in June’s Pulse Nightclub shooting, which killed 49 people in the deadliest U.S. shooting in modern history.
The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, initiated by the League of Women Voters of Florida, was created after the Pulse massacre to promote smart, common-sense gun legislation and helped set the course for the legislation being unveiled today.
The Coalition quickly gained momentum and has grown to include more than 100 local, state and national organizations. It includes such diverse groups as the Hispanic Federation, Interfaith Council of Central Florida, Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, Florida PTA, and Doctors for America.
In addition to pushing for a ban on assault-style weapons, the Coalition also calls for comprehensive universal background checks.
“We are no longer going to allow the NRA to dictate gun laws in Florida,” said Patti Brigham, Co-chair of the Coalition and 1st Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Florida.
“Florida cannot wait nor do we have to wait for our federal government to take action. We can and should follow the lead of seven other states that already have in effect what we are proposing today,” Brigham said, adding that ordinary citizens do not need weapons such as the Sig Sauer MCX, brandished by the shooter at Pulse, to hunt, defend ourselves, or to show them off because we can.
Strong, outspoken support for the Coalition and the proposed legislation comes from a number of diverse groups, demonstrating the far-reaching passion for the assault-weapons ban and the safety of our community.
Not mincing words, Andy Pelosi, executive director of Campaign To Keep Guns Off Campus, said, “Assault rifles, like the one used in the Pulse shooting, where 49 people were killed and another 53 injured, are weapons of war, designed to kill and injure large numbers of people in a short period of time.” He added that the state legislature should immediately act on the proposals unveiled today.
Also strongly supporting the proposed legislation is Equality Florida, an organization dedicated to securing equality and justice for the LGBTQ community. It was an early member of the Coalition.
“The Pulse massacre compelled us to confront two realities: the systematic dehumanization of LGBTQ people and the far too-easy access to weapons of mass slaughter,” said Hannah Willard, Public Policy Director for Equality Florida.
The Rev. Bryan G. Fulwider, CEO of Building US and a member of Friends Talking Faith With The Three Wise Guys on WMFE, says faith “leads us in the way of peace.”
“We recognize that people of faith may differ on the way we feel about guns, individually. Nevertheless, honest faith leads us to foster and build a more peaceful community and society,” he continued. “Military-style assault weapons are not part of creating a more peaceful and safe community. They have only one purpose, mass casualty shooting. These weapons may be a tool of war, sadly, but they have no place in a society and community committed to creating peace and safety for all people,” he said.
The Florida PTA, also a Coalition member, likewise applauds the efforts of Stewart and Smith.
“Given the history and tradition of strong support for the safety and protection of our children and youth, and with the desire to encourage common-sense legislation that can potentially prevent future tragic scenarios involving our most precious resource, Florida PTA offers unwavering support banning the sale and possession of military-style semi-automatic assault weapons,” said Angie Gallo.