GIFFORDS statement on end of Florida legislative session

MIAMI — Today, GIFFORDS Florida, an initiative that’s part of the gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement as the Florida legislative session comes to an end in 2026.

GIFFORDS Florida fought back against dangerous bills that would have put lives at risk: HB 133, which aimed to reverse post-Parkland gains and lower the gun purchase age from 21 to 18, and HB1551, a bill which would have given negligent gun industry actors legal immunity from lawsuits regarding defective weapons. HB 1551 is being pushed for by gun industry giant Sig Sauer, whose guns are known to spontaneously misfire. HB 133 was soundly defeated.

GIFFORDS also fought language in HB 757, which will allow certain university employees to carry concealed firearms on campus. Ultimately, HB 757 passed through the Florida legislature after being surreptitiously added as an amendment to a separate bill, despite failing to pass on its own.

“This year, GIFFORDS fought back against a wave of illogical legislation that would further endanger Florida communities,” said Samantha Barrios, Florida State Director at GIFFORDS. “From allowing teens to purchase guns to handing out legal immunity to CEOs who sell defective guns, these measures would have put our already vulnerable communities at even greater risk. GIFFORDS Florida stood up, and alongside partners and legislators, we fought back and earned crucial wins.

“But legislation allowing guns on campus should never have passed, and we will refuse to surrender that fight. As we look to the future, we will continue to advocate for community violence intervention funding, and we will continue to fight for a Florida that is free from gun violence,” Barrios continued.

“As a gun owner, I have been proud to stand up and speak out against dangerous bills that threaten my community,” said Kitty Donovan, a member of GIFFORDS Gun Owners for Safety Florida Chapter. “This session, far too many Florida leaders proved that a hefty corporate campaign donation is all it takes for them to abandon public safety interests. But despite the best efforts of well-funded gun CEO’s, we’ve managed to fight back and stop dangerous legislation in its tracks. We will continue to fight attempts to squeeze this into the state budget.”

In 2025, Florida earned a C- on the GIFFORDS Annual Gun Law Scorecard. On average, more than 3,100 people die by gun violence each year in Florida — one person every three hours. Florida still lacks key gun safety laws such as gun owner licensing, universal background checks, and most domestic violence gun laws.