The Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement in response to a mass shooting just outside the city of Lakeland, Florida. Reports indicate that the shooting occured in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 5, when a man outfitted in body armor opened fire at two separate residences in a North Lakeland community, killing four individuals and wounding an 11-year-old girl. One of the victims shot and killed was a young infant who was in their mother’s arms at the time of the shooting.
“This terrible tragedy defies explanation, and serves as a deeply painful reminder that in America, gun violence can happen anywhere and at any time. We can’t let events like this continue to happen — instead, we must use all tools at our disposal to prevent people who are a danger to themselves or others from obtaining deadly weapons, before it is too late,” said Makiko Felice, a lead volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Our thoughts are with the victims’ loved ones during this time, and we will continue to fight for common sense gun safety legislation, at the state and federal level, that could end gun violence once and for all.”
In an average year, 2,752 people in Florida die by guns. Information about gun violence in Florida is available here. If you are interested in speaking with a Florida Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action volunteer, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
