A Marjory Stoneman Douglas alumnus, former State Rep. Jared Moskowitz, spoke about his experiences in the hours after the shooting.
By Bryan Boggiano
U.S. Rep. and Parkland resident Jared Moskowitz (D-Fl) will be pivotal in addressing gun violence prevention in Congress.
The congressman announced Monday he would serve as the vice chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, a bipartisan group of lawmakers working to find common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence, according to a press release.
The news comes after the freshman representative was sworn in Saturday.
Task force chair and founder Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Ca) appointed Moskowitz, who will serve alongside incoming Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fl) of Orlando.
“In Florida, being a Marjory Stoneman Douglas graduate from Parkland, I brought together Democrats and Republicans to pass gun violence prevention legislation through the Republican-controlled legislature and Republican Governor and beat the NRA,” Moskowitz said in a statement.
He continued, ” Now, as vice-chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I look forward to finding common ground.”
Moskowitz served in the Florida House of Representatives at the time of the Stoneman Douglas tragedy. In that role, he devoted time to supporting families affected by the tragedy.
“Jared Moskowitz and I should not know each other, but because of the Parkland shooting, we do,” said Fred Guttenberg in a statement.
Guttenberg continued, “Following the Parkland shooting, Jared Moskowitz led the effort to pass gun safety measures in Florida. Many are responsible, but Jared is the reason it got done. My family and I will be forever thankful for Jared’s ongoing work to reduce gun violence.”
Through discussion with colleagues and a speech that captured state and national audiences, Moskowitz rallied Democrats and Republicans to champion the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
The act focuses on gun violence prevention, school safety, and mental health reform.
For his gun violence prevention and gun-control efforts, Moskowitz received an F-minus rating from the NRA.
In Congress, he plans to introduce similar legislation.
“Gun violence must be a top priority for the next Congress, and essential to this effort is the involvement of the new leaders in Congress,” Thompson said. “I am thrilled to have Representative-elect Jared Moskowitz join the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force as a vice chair.”
The task force was formed in 2012 following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. In the previous Congress, there were 180 members of the task force.
The group’s efforts led to the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, funding for background checks and research programs, and programs enacted to reduce gun violence.
Author Profile
- A University of Florida journalism graduate, Bryan plans to pursue geosciences at Florida International University for his master's. He has a strong interest in weather, entertainment, and journalism.
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