Gun Violence
This page will be updated regularly. Please suggest additions by contacting our Research Volunteer on Gun-Violence. We welcome volunteers to join this Issue Committee.
CO-LEADERS ON THIS ISSUE:
Sr. Mary David Hydro, OSB: mary.david.hydro@saintleo.edu 352-588-7176
Co-Coordinator: TBA.
Researcher Volunteer: Andrea Cook: Andrea.cook6@gmail.com / 703-519-4486
Policy Focus:
We bemoan the escalating senseless acts of violence stemming from America’s obsession with firearms and reinforced by recent Florida legislation. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated, “We support measures that control the sale and use of firearms and make them safer” (Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice, 2000). We take a resolute stance against gun violence and advocate for common-sense gun laws.
Some Background on the Issue
- Racist Shooting of 3 African Americans in Jacksonville Aug. 26, 2023
(Statement by PC-USA) - Spotlight on Gun-Violence in Florida (Florida League of Women Voters)
- Fred Gutenberg (Father of child murdered at Parkland HS): Where we Are Today Because the Country Listened to the Gun Lobby (Moving Video Interview, Skip ads)
- Gun-Violence Archive (Comprehensive Fact & Figures)
- Florida State Health Charts Related to Gun Violence (Statistics on hospitalizations from non-fatal injuries, deaths from suicide by firearms, deaths from homicides.)
Existing Policies that are current law
- Florida’s New Concealed Weapon Law (HB 543 Adopted in 2023) (FL Dept of Agriculture)
- Full Text of HB 543 (Concealed Weapon Law) (pdf)
PolicY PROPOSALS in the 2024 FLORIDA LegislatURE (includes Federal Legislation)
- Orlando US Congressman Maxwell Frost’s Proposed Disarm Hate Bill
(This is federal legislation, but important to support and echo in the Fla Legislature) - Jaime’s Law (Federal Legislation proposed by Fred Gutenberg, introduced by Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz)
Other organizations and initiatives with whom we may collaborate on this issue
- Brady United (Learn About the Brady Plan and this long-standing Gun-violence Prevention Group)
- Prevent Gun Violence in Florida
- March For Our Lives Youth-Led movement following Stoneman Douglas HS shooting in Parkland, Florida on 2/14/18)
- Team Enough (Another Youth-Led Organization to Prevent Gun-Violence)
- Moms Demand Action (National)
- Moms Demand Action – Florida Chapter
- Choose Peace/Gun-Violence Must Cease (Gun Violence Prevention Summit in Gainesville, FL)
Advocacy Actions that may be available
Pax Christi Florida Contact Information
Our mailing address is:
Pax Christi Florida
Sandra Baran, Coordinator
6062 Robinson Street
Jupiter FL 33458
Email: pianopeace1@gmail.com
Pax Christi Florida’s Communication Coordinator:
Beth Cioffoletti (shoofoolatte@gmail.com)