March 17, 2023
Despite the disgustingly increasing number of school shootings and gun-violence related incidents in the U.S, let alone two of the worst mass shootings in history having occurred in Florida, Governor DeSantis put forth a cluster of bills supporting the ability for people to carry concealed loaded firearms without a permit or even a background check.
Reducing the required age to purchase or transfer guns is the goal of House Bill 1543. Proposed changes in House Bill 543 and Senate Bill 150 would do away with any license, background check or training in order to carry a concealed gun.
Permitless carry laws endanger the public by removing vital safety measures designed to ensure that those carrying concealed weapons have been properly trained and vetted. With the increasing numbers of mass shootings and rising gun crime, it is a shock that legislators are asked to loosen gun restrictions rather than make them stronger.
A poll conducted by University of North Florida revealed that 77%, the majority of Florida voters feel that the bill is too extreme and stand in opposition. “Even among Republicans, most people are against carrying weapons without a permit,” said Michael Binder, executive director of the UNF, Public Opinion Research Lab.
In an effort to curb gun violence, President Biden signed Executive Order 14092, which was signed in hopes of bringing the country closer to universal background checks without legislation and pushing to hold the gun industry accountable. According to Biden it does this by calling out for an independent government study that “analyzes and exposes how gun manufacturers aggressively market firearms to civilians, especially to minors,”
March for Our Lives an organization born out of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and is a youth-led movement dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education, and direct action by youth to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence.
March For Our Lives has held 450 marches worldwide, leading to over 20 new state laws to curb gun violence, and the passing of bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first federal legislation on guns in 30 years.
A tweet by March for Our Lives emphasizes the extreme importance of putting a stop to the root enabler of school shootings, firearms. “In the last five years, more kids have died by the hands of firearms in their schools than American soldiers have in war overseas.”
Your donation will help support not only the student Journalism and Yearbook clubs at Marco Island Academy, but as well as any new equipment, club improvements, and annual website hosting costs.
Sophia Lowrie is a senior at Marco Island Academy and the Executive Editor for The Wave. She loves baking and cooking for friends and family and reading...
