TALLAHASSEE, F.L.—The Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements after nearly 100 volunteers gathered at the Florida State Capitol for their 2025 Advocacy Day to call on lawmakers to reject HB 759—a bill that would roll back post-Parkland gun safety laws by lowering the firearm purchase age from 21 to 18.
“After the horrific tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, we passed lifesaving gun safety laws in Florida with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. That’s because no matter where you stand politically, none of us can be okay with our kids getting shot and killed,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “But extremist lawmakers want to roll back the very law they passed after the Parkland shooting knowing full well that an 18-year-old legally bought the weapon used to murder 17 people. If lawmakers are serious about preventing gun violence, they have to learn from previous tragedies and fully support and expand the commonsense, lifesaving policies that can prevent them, not take us backward.”
“Behind every gun violence statistic are countless stories – of parents who never got to kiss their kids goodbye, gunshot victims living with physical and emotional wounds, entire families heartbroken by gun suicide, or witnesses of gun crimes living with trauma,” said Jennifer Massey, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. “If changing one law can save one life, it is worth our time in this fight, and we must continue together until all communities and families are safe and free from gun violence.”
“Gun violence is the second leading cause of death for children and teens in Florida. These numbers are not just statistics—they are sons, daughters, classmates, and friends,” said Andres Perez, president of the FSU chapter of Students Demand Action. “We will not be silent while lawmakers try to roll back protections we fought so hard to win. We will not let our safety be sold out to the gun lobby. And we will not allow another preventable tragedy to go unanswered.”
Not only would HB 759 lower the age to purchase guns in Florida to allow 18-year-olds to purchase semi-automatic rifles, it would also allow 18-year-olds to purchase handguns from unlicensed sellers with no background check. People aged 18 to 20 are three times more likely to commit gun homicides than those 21 and older. Lowering the age for purchase back down to 18 directly endangers the safety of young people and all Floridians. When firearms are the second leading cause of death for children and teens in Florida, lawmakers have a responsibility to be doing everything possible to prevent tragedies, not further enable them.
Last week, despite fierce opposition from survivors, lawmakers, and gun safety advocates, extremist lawmakers passed HB 759 out of the House. Only six Republican lawmakers voted against the bill. To be clear—requiring a person to be 21 to purchase a firearm is neither controversial nor unconstitutional. Earlier this month, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals en banc ruled to uphold Florida’s law barring individuals under 21 from purchasing firearms, ruling it constitutional.
After the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, lawmakers and Governor Rick Scott took action to pass common sense policies designed to prevent another tragedy from happening again. Despite the fact that Gov. DeSantis and Republican lawmakers are backtracking by attempting to pass HB 759, bipartisan efforts to protect Florida communities from gun violence are still happening. Last week, both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Committee voted down a bill that would allow firearms on college campuses, including dorms. Lawmakers must continue to stand together and reject reckless gun bills that put lives in danger—just as they did earlier this week—to safeguard young people from the ongoing threat of gun violence.
An alarming three out of four active shooter incidents at K-12 schools are carried out by current or former students. The shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a former student, legally purchased the firearm used to shoot and kill 17 people and injure 17 more—at just 19 years old. Lowering the age to purchase a gun goes against the will of law enforcement, local authorities, and other public safety experts who know this bill will only exacerbate gun violence and make it easier for kids and dangerous people to carry guns. Furthermore, policies like this fail students, teachers, and communities by opening up the sale of firearms to current or recently graduated students. Make no mistake—this bill does nothing to prevent tragedies, it puts Floridians at greater risk for them.
Rather than fighting to dismantle constitutional safeguards that protect communities across the state, lawmakers should prioritize common-sense gun safety laws, like secure storage. Florida law requires secure storage if a minor under 16 could access a gun, but it should also mandate secure storage in vehicles, as car theft is now the leading source of stolen firearms. While many gun owners follow safe storage practices, research shows that over half do not. Secure storage ultimately helps keep families and communities safe.
In an average year, 3,108 people die by guns. With a rate of 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people, Florida has the 33rd-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. Gun violence costs Florida $40.3 billion each year, of which $875.9 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Florida is available here.
If you would like to speak to a Florida volunteer with Students Demand Action or Moms Demand Action or a policy expert, please reach out.