NEWS

Moms Demand Action gather over 500 to lobby for stricter gun laws at Capitol

Tori Schneider
Tallahassee Democrat
Bryce Mckoy, a 9-year-old second grader from Palm Beach County, looks at his mom, Teisha Mckoy, as she encourages him to share the fears he has about going to school after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting with Sen. Bobby Powell in Powell's office Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Teisha Mckoy joined Moms Demand Action after the shooting almost a year ago which brought her to the Capitol with her son and over 500 other members to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Bryce Mckoy, a 9-year-old second grader from Palm Beach County, looks at his mom, Teisha Mckoy, as she encourages him to share the fears he has about going to school after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting with Sen. Bobby Powell in Powell's office Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Teisha Mckoy joined Moms Demand Action after the shooting almost a year ago which brought her to the Capitol with her son and over 500 other members to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Heather Chapman, left, the mother of two Parkland shooting survivors and her mother Judy Denunzio listen as Janice Herbert-Bates, the mother of another Parkland shooting survivor goes over the bills that Mothers Demand Action would like to see be supported and opposed by Rep. Kirstin Jacobs. Over 500 activists visited the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 to meet with lawmakers and lobby for stricter gun laws.
Heather Chapman, left, the mother of two Parkland shooting survivors and her mother Judy Denunzio listen as Janice Herbert-Bates, the mother of another Parkland shooting survivor goes over the bills that Mothers Demand Action would like to see be supported and opposed by Rep. Kirstin Jacobs. Over 500 activists visited the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 to meet with lawmakers and lobby for stricter gun laws.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Sen. Bobby Powell talks with Bryce Mckoy, a 9-year-old second grader from Palm Beach County, after Mckoy expressed his fears about going to school after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting last year. His fears prompted his mother, Teisha Mckoy, to join Moms Demand Action and the pair visited the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 to lobby with over 500 others for stricter gun laws.
Sen. Bobby Powell talks with Bryce Mckoy, a 9-year-old second grader from Palm Beach County, after Mckoy expressed his fears about going to school after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting last year. His fears prompted his mother, Teisha Mckoy, to join Moms Demand Action and the pair visited the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 to lobby with over 500 others for stricter gun laws.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Bryce Mckoy, 9, a second grader from Palm Beach County, shyly tells Sen. Bobby Powell about his fears about going to school he developed after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas almost a year ago. Mckoy and his mother Teisha Mckoy visited the Capitol along with over 500 other activists from Moms Demand Action to lobby for stricter gun laws. The pair also recently visited Washington, D.C. to lobby there.
Bryce Mckoy, 9, a second grader from Palm Beach County, shyly tells Sen. Bobby Powell about his fears about going to school he developed after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas almost a year ago. Mckoy and his mother Teisha Mckoy visited the Capitol along with over 500 other activists from Moms Demand Action to lobby for stricter gun laws. The pair also recently visited Washington, D.C. to lobby there.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is met with a standing ovation and cheers as she takes the stage in front of First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee to address over 500 members of Moms Demand Action from all over Florida. The activists spent Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 in Tallahassee meeting with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws. Fried gave them tips for how to talk to the lawmakers and their aides.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is met with a standing ovation and cheers as she takes the stage in front of First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee to address over 500 members of Moms Demand Action from all over Florida. The activists spent Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 in Tallahassee meeting with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws. Fried gave them tips for how to talk to the lawmakers and their aides.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
The crowd gives a standing ovation for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried as she addresses over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee. "The NRA is no longer in charge of the Department of Agriculture," Fried said.
The crowd gives a standing ovation for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried as she addresses over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee. "The NRA is no longer in charge of the Department of Agriculture," Fried said.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Tampa members of Moms Demand Action huddle up before departing for the Capitol where they would meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tampa members of Moms Demand Action huddle up before departing for the Capitol where they would meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Rep. Al Jacquet introduces himself to members of Moms Demand Action from Broward and Palm Beach counties as they wait in the office of Sen. Bobby Powell to meet with him and lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Rep. Al Jacquet introduces himself to members of Moms Demand Action from Broward and Palm Beach counties as they wait in the office of Sen. Bobby Powell to meet with him and lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Bryce Mckoy, 9, sucks on a Jolly Rancher while his mother Teisha Mckoy and a group from Mothers Demand Action speak to Karina Pereira, a legislative assistant to Rep. Kirstin Jacobs in her office at the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Over 500 members of Moms Demand Action from across Florida met with lawmakers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Bryce Mckoy, 9, sucks on a Jolly Rancher while his mother Teisha Mckoy and a group from Mothers Demand Action speak to Karina Pereira, a legislative assistant to Rep. Kirstin Jacobs in her office at the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Over 500 members of Moms Demand Action from across Florida met with lawmakers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Members of Moms Demand Action from Broward and Palm Beach counties walk through the Capitol looking for the office of Sen. Bobby Powell as they meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Members of Moms Demand Action from Broward and Palm Beach counties walk through the Capitol looking for the office of Sen. Bobby Powell as they meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Tampa members of Moms Demand Action huddle up before departing for the Capitol where they would meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tampa members of Moms Demand Action huddle up before departing for the Capitol where they would meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Teisha Mckoy, a member of Moms Demand Action from Palm Beach County, talks to Tomas Alcala, a legislative assistant to Sen. Bobby Powell in Powell's office Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mckoy and over 500 members of Moms Demand Action visited lawmakers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Teisha Mckoy, a member of Moms Demand Action from Palm Beach County, talks to Tomas Alcala, a legislative assistant to Sen. Bobby Powell in Powell's office Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Mckoy and over 500 members of Moms Demand Action visited lawmakers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Janice Herbert-Bates, the mother of a Parkland shooting survivor, speaks to Tomas Alcala, a legislative assistant to Sen. Bobby Powell in Powell's office Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Herbert-Bates and over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action visited the Capitol to meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Janice Herbert-Bates, the mother of a Parkland shooting survivor, speaks to Tomas Alcala, a legislative assistant to Sen. Bobby Powell in Powell's office Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Herbert-Bates and over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action visited the Capitol to meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Members of Moms Demand Actions from Broward and Palm Beach counties meet with Tomas Alcala, a legislative assistant to Sen. Bobby Powell to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Members of Moms Demand Actions from Broward and Palm Beach counties meet with Tomas Alcala, a legislative assistant to Sen. Bobby Powell to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Debbie Weir, a member of Every Town for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, addresses over 500 members of Moms Demand Action in First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee before they departed to the Capitol to meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Debbie Weir, a member of Every Town for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, addresses over 500 members of Moms Demand Action in First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee before they departed to the Capitol to meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Over 500 activists from Moms Demand Action convened inside First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 before visiting law makers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Lynn Janasiewicz, a Tallahassee member of Moms Demand Action, takes notes as leaders go over guidelines for over 500 members of Moms Demand Action to meet with lawmakers at the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Lynn Janasiewicz, a Tallahassee member of Moms Demand Action, takes notes as leaders go over guidelines for over 500 members of Moms Demand Action to meet with lawmakers at the Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried hugs very excited Tracy Merlin, a Broward County teacher, as Fried enters First Presbyterian Church where Merlin and over 500 other members of Moms Demand Action gathered before descending on the Capitol to meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried hugs very excited Tracy Merlin, a Broward County teacher, as Fried enters First Presbyterian Church where Merlin and over 500 other members of Moms Demand Action gathered before descending on the Capitol to meet with lawmakers to lobby for stricter gun laws in Florida.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is stopped for a selfie on her way out of First Presbyterian Church after addressing the over 500 members of Moms Demand Action who convened there before meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is stopped for a selfie on her way out of First Presbyterian Church after addressing the over 500 members of Moms Demand Action who convened there before meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol to lobby for stricter gun laws Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.
Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat