Everytown Survivor Network and Florida Moms Demand Action Statement in Response to Jacksonville Shooting

The Florida Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statements in response to a domestic violence shooting that occurred Friday afternoon in a Jacksonville home, in which a gunman shot and killed three people and injured one other before killing himself. The shooting victims include 5-month-old twins Hayden and Kayden Hiatt, their grandfather Travis Hiatt, 49, and the twins’ 22-year-old mother Megan Hiatt, who remains in critical condition. While details are still developing, police have stated that the tragic event appears to have spawned from a domestic issue. The gunman pled no contest to a domestic violence misdemeanor in 2013.

STATEMENT FROM KATE RANTA, DOMESTIC GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVOR AND MEMBER OF EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK:

“My heart is broken over this senseless tragedy that has devastated a family and community. My heartfelt thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. I know too well the pain caused by domestic violence – three years ago my ex-husband stalked me and my father home and shot both of us. We both survived, but we live with the scars every day. We cannot allow these tragedies to continue to occur. There are common sense steps we can take to keep guns away from domestic abusers that will prevent these senseless acts of violence. .”

STATEMENT FROM CHRYL ANDERSON, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER OF THE FLORIDA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION:

“First and foremost our thoughts are with the friends and families of the victims, and the mother who remains in critical condition. This incident serves as yet another reminder of the devastating toll of gun violence, which kills 88 Americans everyday. It is time our elected officials defend the safety of all Floridians and do more to keep guns out of dangerous hands.”