We’re not waiting for anybody else, right? Ok. Well, good morning. Thank you so much for being here with us this morning. I wanted to first apologize. Sheriff Mina had an emergency this morning, we just found out so he’s not going to be able to join us. But I will want to read *** statement that he wrote in this Sun Sentinel as *** law enforcement officer who has been serving this community for over 30 years. I vehemently oppose any type of permit or open carry legislation. I’m not alone many law enforcement leaders even in states that allow it, oppose this senseless idea. I have patrolled the streets here in Orange County. I have walked *** beat in downtown Orlando as the bars and nightclubs let out at two AM. Anyone who has done the same will tell you that allowing people to carry guns openly or without *** permit is *** recipe for disaster. We already have too many violent encounters because of simple disagreements, throwing more guns into the mix will only increase shootings and deaths by gunfire. Thank you again. My name is Debbie Muar Sal Powell, former Congresswoman of Florida’s 26th district. And *** senior advisor here at Giffords. I’m also *** mother of three Children, two of them who are still in school and *** survivor of gun violence. I lost my father to gun violence when I was 24 years old and I have met thousands of parents of loved ones who have lost *** member of their family due to this epidemic in this country. We know that Governor Ron De Santis on Monday *** week exactly *** week after we lost three Children and three adults in Nashville signed *** dangerous and reckless permit carry bill behind closed doors with the company of the NRA and the gun lobby allowing almost anyone to carry *** gun with no permit. No license. Absolutely no training and no background check. This will result in more violence in our state and it will result in our communities and our Children being less safe because of Governor Ron desantis. We know that permit carry bills result in an increase in gun violence in Florida. In particular, it is very easy for people at an elevated risk of violence to bypass federal background checks. The state does not require *** background check and they can stockpile weapons at gun shows from private sellers or on the streets. And now Governor Ron DeSantis is making it easier for those same people to be able to carry loaded guns virtually anywhere. No questions asked. That makes it nearly impossible for law enforcement officers like what we just heard from Sheriff Mina to stop them from carrying these loaded weapons in public. These laws do not make people safer. The fact is that when more people carry guns in public violent crimes gets worse, weakening gun laws are associated with an increase of up to 13 to 15% in violent crime rates and an 11% increase in rates of homicides committed with handguns, Gun violence in the state of Florida under Ron descent is getting worse. We have lost over 3,142 people in 2021 alone. And we know that every three hours, we are losing *** Floridian to gun violence. The majority of our state of Floridians oppose this bill. Giffords polling found that 61% of Floridians and 71% of Latino Hispanic voters oppose permit carry. Governor Ron de Santis knows that this legislation is not popular, which is why he signed this bill behind closed doors and he even lost support from some members of his party in Miami Dade County. We are going to hold governor Ron de Santis accountable for his egregious actions. We know that Florida deserves *** future without violence. I can say uh some words in Spanish, do we have Spanish media here? I want to introduce *** champion who has been representing people from Orlando in Tallahassee who has continued to defend the rights of every American here in the city representative, Carlos Smith Garcia. Thank you, congresswoman. Um Many of, you know, me as *** former state lawmaker, Carlos Guillermo Smith, I represented East Orange County for six years in the Florida House of Representatives. I’m now with the LGBTQ Civil Rights Organization Equality Florida as well. And many of you know that my introduction into the movement of gun violence prevention was *** tragic one. It’s because of what happened here in our community in 2016, when 49 mostly LGBT Q people of color were murdered at Pulse Nightclub by someone with *** six hour mcx *** new age AR-15, *** weapon of war that does not belong in civilian hands. From that moment, we knew this community knew and LGBTQ Floridians knew all too well that the gun lobby’s obsession with easy access to deadly weapons to weapons of war can make hatred bigotry, homophobia, transphobia even more deadly gun violence for us in Orlando is not *** hypothetical and it’s not an abstract, it is stealing and has stolen our loved ones. And after the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub, our community found power in pain and we made protecting our friends, protecting our families, our neighbors and our kids from gun violence *** top priority for this community and equality. Florida recognized that gun violence prevention was an LGBTQ rights issue. It’s why we are proud along with Giffords and other organizations to be working towards gun violence prevention and being part of the prevent gun violence Florida coalition of organizations with the same goal, Florida did make progress after pulse and Parkland In 2018, we know that the Florida Legislature famously came together after the shooting at Marjorie Stone and Douglas, they came together to pass bipartisan legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence. But when R de Santis secretly signed the permit carry bill behind closed doors this week, he took Florida in *** dangerous new direction. He made *** hard right turn and it signals *** reversal of the progress that we have made as *** state on gun violence prevention since pulse and since Parkland and it is *** rescinding of the promise that this state made to those families impacted by gun violence, that we would make gun violence prevention *** priority in this state. Our promise to this community has not changed. These lives were not taken in vain. And the reversal of the progress we’ve made on gun violence prevention with the signing of permit carry this week is not just limited to one proposal. The Florida House has moved forward and approved legislation in committee That actually lowers the age to buy an ar-15 From 21 to 18. The literal reversal of legislation that was passed in the wake of the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas. That is *** shame. But this new law permit carry eliminates basic firearms training and criminal background checks that are required for concealed carry. It makes it easier for criminals who otherwise would not be eligible for *** concealed weapons permit. It makes it easier for them to carry secretly firearms in public with very little hassle from law enforcement. That is why we have seen our street cops and those who are on the beat in law enforcement opposing permit carry in stark contrast to the elected politically motivated members of law enforcement that are aligned with Governor Ron desantis on this issue. So folks, we need to make absolutely clear that we’re standing for gun violence prevention to protect our Children. When Rhoda Santas signed permit carry, they were doing the opposite of protecting our Children. Meanwhile, they’re advancing legislation to protect our Children from drag queens. This would be *** joke if it were not so dangerous for Floridians. No one wanted this. Giffords has their own polling that shows well, more than *** majority opposes permit carry. And there’s other polling that shows 77% of Floridians oppose permit carry. And it is not hard to understand why because these laws that have been in place for decades that require firearms training, basic firearms training and criminal background checks. In order to have *** concealed carry permit to carry secretly in public, it saves lives and it keeps people safe. Ron desantis. It’s why the governor signed this bill privately behind closed doors, hoping that the voters will not notice we have noticed and we will remember and hold these politicians accountable. Thank you. And now it is such an honor and *** pleasure to be able to have with us today. Congressman Maxwell Frost, who was elected in the 2022 election representing the young voices who will be coming out today at 12 on the school walkout because they have had it with politicians doing nothing to protect their lives from gun violence at their schools. So with that, thank you, Congressman. That good morning everybody. I’m Congressman, Max Alejandro Frost, proudly representing Florida’s 10th congressional district which we are in right now. I’m *** gun violence prevention activist organizer. I’m *** survivor of gun violence and proud to represent the people here in central Florida who are tired of seeing people in our own community be gunned down on *** daily basis due to senseless gun violence just last week, days after the tragic and census school shooting in Nashville that left six people dead including three Children. Our governor moved to sign into law this dangerous bill and for people watching at home who aren’t necessarily sure what it is. I’ll make it very simple for you. It’s pretty much any gun, any person, any place, any time. And at *** time where we’re losing 100 lives *** day due to gun violence, three, over 300 Americans are shot on *** daily basis and thousands survive gun violence that is unacceptable. We live in *** country right now where if you have *** child, If you have *** child and God forbid they died before the age of 18. The most likely reason for their death would be because of *** bullet because they were shot to death. And I don’t know about you. But I think in the year 2023, in *** country like America where we have so many resources that is unacceptable. Every death by senseless gun violence is unacceptable. Every death by senseless gun violence is *** policy failure. And we have to act, you’d think watching innocent school Children be murdered would be enough to give this governor pause on *** law that’s not going to do anything to help people but will result in violence and will result in death. And said our governor is more interested in running for president than running the state of Florida. And that’s why we see all of his priorities, all of his bills, everything that he’s doing this session is merely one big set up in one big campaign to set him up to run to be the president of The United States. But the people of Florida reject these policies. We see it and we’ve heard about the polling over 70% of Floridians do not agree with permit carry, do not agree with *** bill that allows people to carry any gun, any place, anywhere, any time. And we need our legislators in Tallahassee and we need this governor to listen to the people and the way that he’s been running this state, targeting people that he disagrees with trying to revoke liquor licenses from small business. Essentially working to close them, changing universities, criminalizing people because of who they love and who they are is not in line with the founding principles of this country. It’s not freedom, it’s not liberty, it’s the opposite of that. In fact, it’s fascism. And for me, I believe in *** country as great as this. We should live in *** place where we have the truest, freedom of all the freedom to live. I think about the little girl who was murdered just about *** month ago, right here in Orange County, sitting in her room on her bed. I just met the family last night. She was at home, she wasn’t at *** store, she wasn’t at school, she was at home and she became *** victim of gun violence. True justice is going to be reached when we have *** world where our kids where our families can live without the fear of being gunned down. Due to this senseless gun violence. I spoke on the House of Representatives the day the Nashville shooting took place and I was clear that politicians are in the pockets of organizations like the NRA. And again, for people listening at home, the NRA is not an advocacy group for gun owners. It’s *** lobbying group for gun manufacturers, putting profits over the lives of people, putting profits over the lives of Children. And I want to tell you this isn’t about gun grabbing. No one is saying go to door to door and take people’s guns. All we’re asking for is common sense. All we’re fighting for is common sense measures that most Republicans are for measures that most NRA members are for. And so the thing is if we can agree on this policy as *** people, how come it doesn’t translate into the halls of Congress, how come it doesn’t translate into the House of Representatives and the Florida State Senate into the Governor’s mansion. And it is because of corruption, politicians who are bought and paid for by corporate interests and are not thinking about your families but are thinking about themselves. And I want to let you know, I’m honored to stand here with leaders like Carlos Guillermo Smith with *** Congresswoman Demio Powell and with these activists and organizers here who are fighting for *** safer Florida and *** safer country where everybody can live and live free of gun violence. I just introduced my first bill into the House of Representatives about *** week and *** half ago to create *** federal office of gun violence prevention. *** very simple measure that I think will help save lives. And I think about the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, she said, what the people want is simple, *** country as great as its promise, nowhere in the promise of our country. Does it talk about the leading cause of death for kids being guns. Nowhere in our promise of our country. Does it talk about arming our citizens to the tooth and then seeing people die on *** daily basis, the promise of this country is freedom and liberty and I will continue to fight for that. Freedom and liberty every day. Again, the greatest liberty and freedom being your ability to live without violence. I think we deserve this by virtue of being human. I think Central Florida deserves this. I think the state deserves this and we will continue to fight for *** safer Florida where our kids and where our people can just be safe and live their lives. That’s what my politics is about. It’s not about Democrats versus Republicans. It’s about the people versus the problem. And I think we can all agree that we have *** serious problem. Thank you so much. Um Thank you so much. That’s why we are so proud of our congressmen. I couldn’t have said it better. Does anybody have any questions for me? The congressman or car? Yes, for who you are on your side. The voters are on your side but the people don’t seem to be voting for the policies that you are. Where’s that good? Well, it starts with all of you being here today and helping us get the word out. Unfortunately, they, they use the message machine to mislead voters. They are calling this bill, the public safety bill because they included $80 million for school safety funding. Now, we know and we support funding for safer schools. Of course, we do. President Biden passed *** bipartisan the Safer Communities Act that significantly increases funding for schools so that they can take the appropriate to have their Children be safe. But, but the problem is that they are misleading voters by lying, by spreading disinformation by calling it the public safety bill. It is extremely important for Floridians to understand what this bill means. And I am grateful for all of you to help us bring this message out. This is *** great question. And I always say, I think Florida is *** case study in the difference between politics and policy. We are *** state that over 60% of us went to the ballot box and said yes to second chances with people with previous felonies, the right to vote. We are *** state that went to the ballot box and said yes to medical marijuana. Over 60% over 60% of us said yes to *** $15 minimum wage. Over 70% of us are against the Hermanus Carey bill. And we are for codifying roe versus right and the right to abortion. So you have to ask yourself, how does *** state that is pretty progressive in terms of policy? Vote for someone like Ronda Santis. And there is the difference between politics and policy. Elections give politicians the opportunity to use money to change the way people see them. And so you have *** governor who was elected by *** wide margin this past election, but that his policies are not favorable. And that’s why when you hear him talk, you don’t hear him talk policy, you hear him talk politics, you hear about whatever that is. You hear about these culture wars because he knows that if he came to the mic and talked about exactly what these bills would do, he would be eating at his own support. And so we have to pay attention to the way that politicians and leaders use that difference between politics and policy to change the way people think. And we as not just Democrats, but as politicians who actually care about, people have to work at bridging that gap telling the story of policy because we have the agenda that’s popular, we have the agenda that people care about. You know why? Because you see it when people vote for the policy directly, they vote for progressive liberal democratic policies. There are expanding rights and freedoms and ensuring people have what they need. So the difference between politics and policy is showcased here in this state in *** way that I don’t think we see anywhere else. We have to fight the disinformation. We have to fight this big money that comes into our state and works to disinform voters, especially Latino voters in South Florida. There’s *** lot of work we need to do. But that’s part of the reason that we’re in this struggle right now. Any other questions? Yeah, bill was signed. They came here today. What action you take and build? Well, we have been working with various legislators to try and introduce amendments to this bill to make it less dangerous. We have been traveling across the state bringing awareness to the issue, educating voters because there will be an election in 2024. And I guarantee you that when they know how their legislators voted in Tallahassee, putting the gun lobby above the safety of their Children, they will not vote for these legislators. Time and time again when I talk to Latino voters, when I talk to African American voters, Floridians who are third generation Floridians, the majority oppose this bill. So the accountability will come next November, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not holding them accountable. Now, we have been investing, making sure that we communicate directly with Floridians to let them know that the just made Florida less safe. Can I add some names there? Congresswoman, the accountability campaign is also really, really important. We’re here not just to tell you that Governor Ron DeSantis signed permit carry to eliminate, required firearms training and criminal background checks for people who secretly carry weapons in public. We’re here to tell you that your Republican state senators and state representatives from right here in Central Florida all voted for this representative Susan Placencia Republican, East Orange County in Seminole County. Representative David Smith, Republican Seminole County representative Carolina Amnesty. Republican Orange County, Senator Jason Broder, Republican Seminole County. Are you sensing *** theme here? This was *** party line vote that Republicans overwhelmingly stood with the extremists and against the majority of Floridians who oppose permit carry. That’s part of the accountability campaign is naming names and holding people accountable. Representante Susana, representante Carolina Amnesty, representante David Smith, Senator Jason, bro. To, no, no, no. Ok. Any, any others, no to have power I think could be weaponized against political opponents. No. What, what, what the permits? Yeah. And let me just, are you with the press? OK. Um with, yeah, no problem. Um, the required permit allows, let me give you an example between 2021 and 2022, more than 7000 Florida residents who had any sort of violent history, unqualified history were not able to get *** permit. The question that I pose to you is, do you want people that have *** violent background that should not be carrying *** weapon that have any sort of criminal background, be able to carry *** weapon without having to register with the state of Florida in Florida. If you want to give *** massage to Floridians to get *** license to get *** permit, it’s over 200 hours of training. That is we need permits to park *** bus right outside of city bus of the City Hall. We need *** permit to be able to practice any at any sort of beauty salon. So why not, why not have that sort of provision to prevent violence, homicide, crime and murder? Thank you. Any, any other questions? Thank you. Thank you. Let’s talk *** little bit.

Gun reform advocates hold news conference to condemn permitless carry

Updated: 1:57 PM EDT Apr 5, 2023

Giffords Florida Senior Advisor former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell held a news conference Wednesday.You can find a replay of the news conference above. The speakers condemned permitless carry, which was just signed into law in Florida. Sheriff John Mina was expected to be in attendance but did not attend due to “an emergency.”

Giffords Florida Senior Advisor former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell held a news conference Wednesday.

You can find a replay of the news conference above. The speakers condemned permitless carry, which was just signed into law in Florida.

Sheriff John Mina was expected to be in attendance but did not attend due to “an emergency.”