In Florida, You Have the Right to Bear Arms Anywhere, but Not to Wear Your Own Backpack
Miami, FL — Today, GIFFORDS Florida, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a statement following the announcement that Broward County will require clear backpacks next school year. This comes after the Florida legislature failed to act to make the state safer from gun violence and instead passed reckless permitless carry legislation that will let almost anyone with a gun carry it concealed in public without a background check or any training.
GIFFORDS Florida Senior Advisor and former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell:
“Florida’s Republican leaders have lost their way. Instead of working to save the lives of our children, they are placing the burden on them and their parents, who now have to spend more money on a transparent backpack. The complete disregard for the safety of our children by Governor DeSantis and the legislature is as clear as the backpacks they want parents to buy.
“Florida’s legislature left town last week without passing any significant gun safety legislation. Instead, they passed an ‘anyone with a gun’ permitless carry bill that will only make our state and our children less safe. Shame on them.”
GIFFORDS Florida State Director Samantha Barrios:
“As the mother of two young children, I’m sickened by what this says about the state I love. Instead of doing their job of keeping kids safe at school, Florida’s Republican legislators have put parents and school districts in this awful position. Our kids deserve the opportunity to bring the backpack they want to school, but they can’t now because our leaders have failed them. GIFFORDS Florida won’t give up. We will continue to fight for a safer future for Florida’s children.”
Lisa Reas, Florida Mother:
“Our schools used to have open windows to let in the sunlight. Now they’re covered with metal slats to protect against gunfire. Our kids used to be able to walk around their schools without fear. Now they work in locked classrooms. Florida has given anyone the ability to own a gun, and now our kids aren’t allowed to wear colorful backpacks. Our kids shouldn’t pay the consequences for lawmakers refusing to keep them safe. Backpacks aren’t the problem.”
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