Press Release

March For Our Lives Defeats Gun Lobby Assault on Post-Parkland Protection as Florida Legislative Session Ends

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MFOL mobilized survivors to defeat House Bill 759 lowering gun purchase age

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 2025 — As the 2025 Florida legislative session comes to an end, March for Our Lives (MFOL) celebrates a crucial victory: stopping the gun lobby’s coordinated assault on the life-saving protections we fought for after Parkland.

This session, the gun lobby and their legislative allies launched an aggressive campaign to roll back Florida’s life saving gun laws by pushing House Bill 759 — a bill that would have lowered the minimum age to purchase a gun from 21 to 18 years old, undoing a protection passed after the Parkland shooting that could have prevented the shooter from accessing his weapon.

MFOL and our allies successfully organized to stop them. The bill died in the Senate after we mobilized survivors and advocates across the state.

“The gun lobby and politicians like Governor DeSantis tried to roll back the progress we fought for after losing 17 lives at my school, but we refused to let them dishonor those deaths,” said Jackie Corin, March For Our Lives Executive Director and Parkland survivor. “This is exactly why MFOL exists — to disrupt their plans and hold them accountable when they put gun lobby profits over our lives. When young people organize with rage and purpose, we win.”

MFOL’s organizing efforts intensified when a gunman opened fire at Florida State University in April, killing two people and injuring six. Former Parkland students found themselves in lockdown again, this time while legislators were actively considering rolling back gun safety laws. MFOL spearheaded a letter from 28 former Marjory Stoneman Douglas students now attending FSU, demanding Governor DeSantis oppose HB 759. The students condemned politicians for attempting to dismantle protections while they experienced another campus shooting.

The gun lobby’s failure in Florida sends a clear message: young people will not let politicians roll back laws that protect our communities. This organizing victory demonstrates that survivor-led advocacy remains a powerful force for defending critical safety measures. MFOL will continue channeling young people’s determination into effective advocacy, holding lawmakers accountable and fighting for policies that prioritize lives over profits.

For more information about MFOL’s work, visit marchforourlives.org. To support our mission during this critical time, please donate at marchforourlives.org/donate.

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