Moms Demand Action: Sen. Lee’s Background Checks Bill A Good First Step

SB 7028 Would Require Background Checks at Gun Shows, Among Other Measures 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following response after the Florida Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee voted to advance SB 7028, which would require background checks on gun sales at gun shows and other places open to the public, among other provisions. A Moms Demand Action volunteer testified in support of the bill, which received bipartisan support. 

“More background checks on gun sales are always a good thing, and I hope this bill is the first step towards background checks on all gun sales,” said Gaby Padrón Loewenstein, volunteer leader with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “The gun market has changed, and gun shows aren’t the only place where someone who is prohibited from having firearms can buy a gun without a background check. Still, we are encouraged by this significant move towards keeping guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.”

“People have been talking about the gun show loophole since before I was born, so it’s high time we take steps to close it,” said Sari Kaufman, survivor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas and a member of the Students Demand Action national advisory board. “Next up, lawmakers should close every other loophole that allows people with dangerous histories to buy guns without a background check.” 

SB 7028 does not require background checks on unlicensed gun sales in private transactions, like many gun sales negotiated over the internet. In 2018, there were over 93,000 posts advertising guns for sale by unlicensed sellers where no background check was required on Armslist.com — the second-highest number in the country.