To: To the Florida Commission on Tourism and the broader Florida tourism industry
Families won't vacation in "guns everywhere" Florida
With the tragic gun violence at Ft. Lauderdale Airport, an important tourism hub, families more than ever need to feel safe and welcome when we go on vacation, especially when we are with our children.
But the Florida State Legislature is even now considering a bill that would open up a long list of public places to firearms, including schools and...airports. The bill would furthermore seek to allow concealed weapons holders to open carry.
Please stop the this bill from moving forward, because seeing guns everywhere would not help families feel safe and welcome.
Why is this important?
Even as our thoughts and prayers are going out to the Ft. Lauderdale shooting victims and their families, the Florida State Legislature is AT THIS VERY MOMENT considering a "guns everywhere" bill that would open up a long list of public places to firearms. Those places include Florida’s college and university campuses, county and municipal buildings, legislative committee meetings, K-12 schools and...airports. Yes, airports.
The bill would furthermore seek to allow concealed weapons holders to open carry in Florida. 1.7 million Floridians are conceal carry permit holders, the greatest concentration of permit holders in the country. Firearm homicides claim 4.5 Floridians per 100,000, which is higher than the national average of 3.5 Americans per 100,000.
With studies showing that states with weak gun laws have the most gun violence, Florida should not be weakening its laws further by forcing more public spaces to allow guns and by permitting concealed weapons holders to open carry.
The tourism sector is a powerful voice in Florida and can influence state policy on gun safety. The Florida Commission on Tourism and other leaders in the tourism industry will not like to hear that weaker gun laws that lead to more guns in public places may lead people to start looking elsewhere for that perfect family vacation.
Tell the Florida Commission on Tourism now that seeing guns everywhere would not help families feel safe and welcome in the Sunshine State.