League of Women Voters of Florida
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Gun Violence Prevention

Learn about gun safety issues, advocacy, and legislative goals
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The League of Women Voters of Florida supports regulations concerning the purchase, ownership, and use of handguns and aims to secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. We promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans. By supporting regulations concerning the purchase, ownership and use of handguns that balance as, nearly as possible, individual constitutional rights with the general interest and welfare of the community.

The League of Women Voters of Florida supports regulations concerning the purchase, ownership, and use of handguns that balance as nearly as possible individual constitutional rights with the general interest and welfare of the community. (1989)

The League supports licensing procedures for gun ownership by private citizens to include a waiting period for a background check, personal identity verification, gun safety education, and annual license renewal.

Issues for Action:

  • Support changes in the law to allow local communities to enact ordinances for any type of gun safety measures in their jurisdiction.
  • Support expansion of mandated background checks and three-day waiting periods for ALL gun sales or transfers including gun shows and unlicensed gun sales.

The League of Women Voters of Florida seeks to reduce and prevent gun crimes, injuries, and deaths via:

  1. A state ban on all semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity feeding devices
  2. Comprehensive universal background checks and ensuring that the State provides all relevant records to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
  3. Continuing efforts to defeat unsafe gun legislation, such as Open Carry, Campus Carry, and Stand Your Ground expansion.

The impact of SB 7030

  1. Under the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, individuals who exclusively perform duties as classroom teachers were exempt from participating in the program. SB 7030 repealed that provision.  

    Gun Safety in Florida Chair: Cathy Swerdlow
    – Click here to contact Cathy.

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Latest on Gun Violence Prevention from the LWVFL

League of Women Voters Urges Legislative Action in Aftermath of FSU Campus Shooting

League of Women Voters Urges Legislative Action after Ybor City Shooting

LWV of Florida, New York, U.S. Respond to SCOTUS New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen Ruling

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Issue History & Study in Action

Supreme Court to review proposed BAWN amendment

Florida Coalition To Prevent Gun Violence Responds to Proposed Gun Legislation Packages in Wake of Parkland Tragedy

Students Lead the Cry at Rally by Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, LWVFL

older entries

Additional Resources

Bipartisan gun-control effort is already backsliding: A column by Ben Friedman
Coalition responds to Secretary DeVos considering Federal funding to purchase guns for teachers
Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Website
Why the LWVFL Formed the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

How you can get involved

Become a league member
Email your florida representative
email your florida senator
email the governor

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