Giffords meets with Parkland’s parents and opposes state bill to ban wearing

PARKLAND, Florida. (WSVN) — Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords has joined Parkland’s parents during a stop in South Florida as they continue their efforts to help keep the moves made in gun control legislation.

The former Arizona MP spoke at an event held Saturday in Parkland. The 52-year-old girl spoke about her daily struggles after she was shot in the head in 2012.

“My recovery is a daily struggle, but the struggle makes me stronger,” she said.

Giffords met with families who lost loved ones in the February 14, 2018 mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School.

“We are at a crossroads. We can let the shooting go on or we can let it go,” she said.

The group has been critical of a bill currently before the Florida Legislature that, if passed, would remove the concealed carry license requirement.

“We are saddened that some legislatures have forgotten about these lessons written in the blood of my daughter, her classmates and teachers,” Tony Montalto said.

Montalto’s daughter Gina was one of 17 people killed in the MSD massacre. He said that in the days following the tragedy, lawmakers have been working to make states safer.

“Florida did it right, and we hope they remember the lessons of Parkland, the lessons of how to keep our community and our state safe,” Montalto said.

The Permit Carry Bill finds significant support in Tallahassee.

“This bill does not affect the process of buying firearms. It doesn’t open the carrier; it focuses on illegal concealed carry,” said Florida State Senator Jay Collins.

“We are establishing a three-day waiting period for those who buy weapons between this time and the time they receive them,” said Florida Rep. Danny Perez. “The possibility for whoever was Baker to no longer be able to buy guns, it all came about because of the tragic event in Parkland; this does not change in this bill.”

The voices of the opponents of the Saturday event affected by the tragedy were heard.

“When you talk about craftsmanship, in Florida we need 600 hours of training to cut hair. If this bill becomes law, it will take zero hours of training to carry guns wherever you want,” the opponent said, “and that should scare every Floridian.”

“We all need to convey a sense of urgency to whoever is watching this. This is an urgent matter and it requires us to fight together,” said Manuel Oliver, who lost his son Joaquin in the MSD massacre.

I hope legislators don’t push the bill through.

“We can protect our families, our future, we can vote, we can be on the right side of history,” Giffords said.

The Unauthorized Concealed Carry Bill has been approved by a Florida Senate committee and is now heading to the full Senate.

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