GIFFORDS Statement on DeSantis Campaign Announcement

MIAMI, FL — GIFFORDS, the gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a statement ahead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s reported 2024 presidential campaign announcement.

GIFFORDS Florida Senior Advisor and former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell:
“Today should be a day of remembrance for the lives lost in Uvalde one year ago, but Ron DeSantis is making it all about himself. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time. While the rest of the country was mourning the tragic shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, DeSantis was posing for a photo op at a gun store with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who shockingly believed the Parkland shooting was faked. His disregard for the victims of gun violence is no surprise, considering his insistence on pushing the dangerous ‘Anyone with a Gun’ permitless carry legislation despite widespread opposition from those he had sworn to protect.

“This issue isn’t going away—in fact, it will only grow more important to voters. Gun violence has increased in Hispanic communities 66% since 2014 and now takes the lives of more than 12 US Hispanics each day.  Access to guns is now the top public health concern, with one-third of voters saying it’s the most important issue for Congress to focus on. If Governor DeSantis is to turn around his struggling campaign he should spend more time listening to voters and less time clamoring for the spotlight.”

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