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Statement

Moms Group Praises FL Senator Diaz de La Portilla for Killing Open-Carry Bill

February 17, 2016
Gun Control

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Last night, Florida State Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Miguel Diaz de La Portilla announced that proposed legislation to allow roughly 1.5 million people with concealed weapons permits to openly carry handguns in Florida will not move forward this year. The latest legislation killed by Senator Diaz de La Portilla one in a series of campus-carry and open-carry related bills that passed the Florida House earlier this year.  
 
In reaction to Sen. Diaz de La Portilla’s announcement, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director of MomsRising.org, issued the following statement:
 
“Moms and their families in Florida and across the country are thankful that Senator Diaz de La Portilla took a courageous stand against the gun lobby and in defense of public safety.  
 
“Senator Diaz de La Portilla’s decision to oppose open-carry legislation is widely supported by his constituents, Florida law enforcement officials and the vast majority of Floridians.  
 
“As Florida is a major family tourist destination, with miles of unspoiled beaches and incredible attractions, Diaz de La Portilla made the right decision for the state in acknowledging that families simply do not want to vacation where people are openly carrying deadly weapons in front of their children.”
 
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.