State needs to make it illegal to purchase assault weapons

Last year alone, there were 340 mass shootings in the United States. Mass shootings are defined as incidents in which 4 or more people, not including the shooter, are shot or killed. The math isn't difficult — that's nearly one a day.

After every mass shooting, we have hoped that our elected leaders would take action instead of offering their "thoughts and prayers.” Because their job involves providing for the safety of their constituents, we expect our elected leaders to do something to prevent further loss of lives. They have failed us time and again.

The next mass shooter is already out there. We know this from experience. I know this personally. My nephew, Alex, was gunned down while sitting at his desk in language arts class at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. He was 14.

Luckily, we have an opportunity to try a different approach — something that has never been done before. I am a part of a bipartisan coalition representing victims from the Parkland and Pulse nightclubs mass shootings. We are offering Floridians a chance to decide which type of guns should be sold in our state.

Our bi-partisan organization — Do Something Florida! — is working to place an amendment on Florida’s 2020 general election ballot that would make it illegal to purchase the type of military-grade assault weapons that killed my nephew, his classmates and teachers.

We have organized a statewide petition collection drive, and over the next year, we will work to collect the required 766,200 signatures to place this amendment on the ballot in 2020.

Florida voters will have the chance to exercise their right to vote and ban the assault weapons that should only belong in the hands of the military and law enforcement personnel.

Florida is not alone in taking this sort of decisive action. Seven states and the District of Columbia have taken steps to ban assault weapons. The Supreme Court has upheld these laws.

We have a chance to make Florida the 8th state to declare that there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe.

One year after our beautiful children and loved ones were killed in Parkland, we are turning our grief into action. This is not about taking away anyone’s rights, it’s about saving lives. We will no longer tolerate rampant, killing machines infiltrating our neighborhoods, our schools, our airports, our nightclubs. That’s why we are doing something, and we need your help.

Visit BAWNFL.org to download, print and sign the petition to help put this lifesaving issue on the 2020 ballot.

You can contribute to the safety of our community. You can help send a message that we will no longer sit idly by while our precious children and fellow Floridians succumb to weapons meant for war zones.

We know this is not the cure to end gun violence, but it will decrease the grotesque number of casualties from mass shootings.

We have tolerated this daily barrage of violence for far too long. We can no longer be complacent and resigned to this bloodshed in our communities.

Join us. Sign the petition. Do Something!