For Immediate Release: April 17, 2025
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The League of Women Voters of Tallahassee and the League of Women Voters of Florida are grief-stricken by the tragic events that unfolded earlier today on Florida State University’s campus. This senseless act of violence was another painful reminder of the urgent need for stronger life-saving legislation that can work to prevent gun violence.
We cannot continue to look the other way while lives are shattered by policies that prioritize access to deadly weapons over public safety. Enough is enough. As the Florida Legislature continues to meet in its annual session, it’s unconscionable that lawmakers are pushing dangerous bills that repeal provisions put into places following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, like House Bill 759, that would lower the age to purchase shotguns and rifles from 21 to 18.
Since 1990, the League of Women Voters of Florida has recognized the proliferation of handguns and semi-automatic weapons as a critical public health crisis. We will maintain our firm commitment to protecting our families, our campuses, and our communities. The League will continue to use its voice, its platform, and its power to demand change. Now, let’s honor the victims not just with words—but with action to pass laws that support gun violence prevention.
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Media Contact: Blake Summerlin – League of Women Voters of Florida: [email protected]