Florida Moms Demand Action Applaud Florida Mayors For Calling on Lawmakers to Support Background Checks Legislation

More Than 15 Mayors Signed the Letter — Including the Mayors of Tampa, Parkland, Tallahassee, and Orlando

The Legislature is Considering a Bill That Would Require Background Checks at Gun Shows

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded mayors from across the state for urging the Florida legislature to strengthen background check requirements on gun sales in an open letter addressed to Senator Lee. The legislature is currently considering SB 7028, which would require background checks on gun sales at gun shows and other places open to the public, among other measures. See the letter and full list of signers here. 

“By standing in support of expanding background checks, our local officials are sending a strong signal to their counterparts in the legislature,” said Jenna Preble, volunteer leader with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We’re proud to support our mayors, and we urge our legislators to follow in their footsteps by supporting SB 7028.” 

“Public safety is a primary concern for me and for my fellow mayors across the state, said Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey. “Background checks on all firearm sales keep guns out of the hands of those who should not possess them, and should be a priority for all Florida lawmakers.”

“Background checks on all firearm sales is a common sense policy that benefits our law enforcement by helping to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who should not have them,” said Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky. “Seventy-five percent of Floridians agree with this policy, and we look to our state legislators to do the right thing on public safety.”

“If you can not buy a gun legally at a gun dealer, then you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun through other means,” said Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. “The residents of Florida get that. We now need the legislature to do their part and pass background checks on all gun sales this year.”

The signers of the letter are part of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan coalition of more than 2,000 current and former mayors from across the country dedicated to gun violence prevention.

On January 23, 400 volunteers with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action traveled to Tallahassee from across the state to urge lawmakers to support SB 7028, which is also supported by the Florida PTA. The Palm Beach Post, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and Tampa Bay Times have editorialized in favor of the bill. In November, more than 80 survivors of gun violence sent a letter to the Florida legislature advocating for stronger background checks.