NO to Florida family vacations and open carry guns!

Tell key FL lawmakers to oppose open carry in the Sunshine State! Florida needs to know you don't want open carry guns around your kids and loved ones when you visit! CALL NOW!

The Sunshine State could soon become much less family friendly. Gun owners with concealed carry permits may soon be able to openly carry their firearms in Florida's public places, including beaches, national parks and other tourist destinations.[1]

Jill, you have already taken action on this issue – THANK YOU! But we have one more mission for you that could really help stop the corporate gun lobby from ruining Florida for families who love to visit.

State lawmakers are at this very minute holding hearings on FL gun policy. Yes, at this very minute! Can you take two minutes and make a call to the Florida State Legislature? Tell key Florida lawmakers: "Families do NOT want to vacation in a state where people are openly carrying weapons!"

http://action.momsrising.org/call/FL_OC_CallAction/?t=5&akid=7570.2172739.PlVkWV

Making a call is easy. MomsRising's handy calling tool will connect you to the office of one of these key Florida lawmakers:

• State Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, Chair of the Judiciary Committee
• State Senator Andy Gardiner, Florida Senate President 
• State Representative Steve Crisafulli, Florida Speaker of the House

You will be reminded of what to say right before you are connected, or you can follow this suggested simple script:

 "My name is (YOUR NAME) from (YOUR CITY AND STATE). I'm a mom (or dad/grandmother/whatever family title you prefer) and a member of MomsRising. I'm calling to let your know that my family loves visiting Florida, but we do not want to vacation in a state where people are openly carrying weapons! Thank you."

*Calling takes just two minutes. Click below for the toll-free number to call now.

http://action.momsrising.org/call/FL_OC_CallAction/?t=7&akid=7570.2172739.PlVkWV

Seeing firearms openly carried can be intimidating and frightening, especially when you're with your children and loved ones. This is why even major retailers like Starbucks and Target don't want guns in their stores.[2] Why would anyone want to feel intimidated, especially while on a Florida vacation?

Furthermore, numerous studies have demonstrated the "weapons effect," where the mere presence of firearms encourages aggressive behavior.[3] Open carry would make the presence of firearms that much more visible in public, raising the likelihood of dangerous outcomes. Who wants that on vacation in the Sunshine State?

No family wants to be intimidated and feel at risk of gun violence, especially when we are supposed to be relaxing and having fun. Please call the Florida State Legislature now, and tell them: "Families do not want to vacation in a state where people are openly carrying weapons."

http://action.momsrising.org/call/FL_OC_CallAction/?t=9&akid=7570.2172739.PlVkWV

Your call will have an impact!

With more than 97 million people visiting the state, [4] bringing more than $70 billion a year to the economy, [5] tourism is the foundation of Florida's economy. Florida leaders will not like to hear that allowing the open carry of firearms may lead people to start looking elsewhere for that perfect family vacation. So call now!

Together, we are a strong voice for safer families and communities...and family vacations!

-- Gloria, Sili, Ashley, Donna, Kristin, Nate and the entire MomsRising.org team

[1] "Open-carry law would create anxiety, not safety: Editorial," Orlando Sentinel, Oct. 15. 2015.

[2] "7 Companies That Don't Want Guns In Their Stores," Andrew Lord, Huffington Post, July 17, 2015.

[3] "Mere sight of a gun makes police – and public – more aggressive, experts say," Andrew Yuhas, The Guardian, Aug. 5, 2015.

[4] "Tourists visiting Florida top 97 million in 2014," Orlando Sentinel, Feb. 16, 2015.

[5] "2012 a record year for tourist spending in Florida," Orlando Sentinel, Mar. 7, 2013.

---