Dear friends,

The new year is upon us, and it provides an unprecedented opportunity to further the movement for safer schools. We’ve come together to get so much done over the last year – school safety bills passed into law, productive meetings with lawmakers in D.C., and continued partnerships to name a few – but there is still so much work to be done. 

We want to thank our supporters who have shown up for us from every corner of the country by funding our advocacy efforts, spreading the word on social media, and doing your part to make this country safer for children, school staff, firearm owners, and more. Our work would not be possible without you. 

Next month will mark four years since the horrific Parkland shooting that took our loved ones from us far too soon. We’re committed to ensuring that no other families will have to endure the pain that we have. 

As we look forward to the new year, here are some bills that we’re keeping an eye on:

The Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act
We know that safe storage saves lives and is a crucial component of firearms ownership for those who choose that path. This bill was introduced by Elissa Slotkin, who represents the district of Oxford High School. If passed, it would require safe and proper storage of firearms in households to prevent children from accessing them. Responsible firearms owners must forbid unauthorized use and employ physical barriers to help prevent accidental injury or death. 

Florida HB 899: Mental Health of Students
Introduced by State Representative Christine Hunschofsky, this bill will ensure that students’ mental health is addressed in a holistic way including through community-based behavioral health services and school-based mental health services. As students struggle with the stress of the pandemic and other factors, we must ensure they have access to support. 

As you know, we’re proud to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle at all levels of government in order to ensure that our schools and communities are safe. This month, we presented School Safety Awards to give thanks to those who have worked tirelessly towards this shared goal:

Representative Dan Daley (FL House District 97)
Representative Daley helped introduce our Parents Need to Know initiative in 2021. He received our School Safety Champion award for his efforts.

 
Senator Gayle Harrell (FL Senate District 25)
Senator Harrell received a 2021 School Safety Champion award from Stand With Parkland for her efforts to pass SB 590, which became law in July. 

Representative Christine Hunschofsky (FL House District 96)
Representative Hunschofsky received Stand with Parkland’s 2021 School Safety Rookie of the Year Award for her work helping to craft and pass SB 590 – School Safety. This law included our Our Parents Need to Know initiative.

Senator Shevrin Jones (FL Senate District 35)
At the start of the new Florida state legislative session, Senator Jones received our 2021 School Safety Partner Award. 

Representative Chip LaMarca (FL House District 93)
Representative Chip LaMarca received Stand with Parkland’s 2021 School Safety Partner award. He helped to lead school safety legislation through the Florida House and we’re grateful for his work.

Representative Chris Latvala (Florida House District 67)
Representative Chris Latvala, the Chair of the Florida House Education and Employment Committee, received our School Safety Lifetime Recognition Award. We appreciate all that he has done since the Parkland massacre to improve safety for students and staff at school.

Even though the holiday season is over, you can still give a gift that gives back. Share your support by purchasing Stand with Parkland T-shirts and sweatshirts today (with many color options) and wear your dedication to school safety proudly. All proceeds go to support our school safety mission.

We have continued to work hard to ensure the safety of students across the country. It’s time to get to work – and we can’t do this without you. 

By making progress on the local, state, and federal levels, we can leave a lasting impact. Please consider a donation to support our work – every dollar has a real impact on school safety in this country.

Thank you,

– Stand With Parkland