Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Giffords Foundation to Protect Americans from Gun Violence is joining forces with artist Bonnie Lautenberg to harness the power of art to address gun violence in America. “Americans are demanding a safer future, and if we come together we can create a future free from gun violence,” says Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. “This vital message is reaching people across the country, thanks to Bonnie Lautenberg’s powerful artwork Guns Kill.”
Following a series of works by Lautenberg that utilize the Statue of Liberty as symbolism, the artwork is currently on view at the Jewish Museum of Florida- FIU in Miami Beach, alongside the exhibition Lady Liberty: A Bonnie Lautenberg Retrospective.
“I created this artwork especially for Gabby Giffords,” says Bonnie Lautenberg. “I added tears streaming down the face of the Statue of Liberty, the two simple words ‘Guns Kill’ on her crown, and locations of mass shootings written across Lady Liberty’s arm. It saddens me deeply that the list of so many places keeps growing where Americans continue to lose loved ones to gun violence.”
Giffords recently visited Lautenberg’s museum exhibition, at a time when legislation is currently being proposed in Florida that would allow people without any permits or training to carry concealed firearms. People who have never passed a background check or fired a gun in their lives would be allowed to carry a concealed gun in public. Similar laws in other states have led to dangerous increases in gun homicides. Currently, people who want to obtain a concealed carry permit in Florida must pass a background check, complete firearm safety training, and meet heightened eligibility standards. These provisions help ensure people with a history of violent behavior cannot carry firearms in public places. Between July of 2021 and June of 2022, more than 7,600 Florida residents with a disqualifying history were prevented from acquiring concealed carry permits for these same reasons. This new permitless carry legislation would strip these important provisions.
“The data is clear that permitless carry leads to more violence, not less,” says Giffords. “The data is also clear that voters in general and Florida voters in particular overwhelmingly oppose letting untrained, unvetted people carry guns in public… We must raise our voices and loudly oppose the passage of this dangerous policy in Florida.”
Guns Kill is on view now at the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU through April 30, and contributors to the Giffords organization can receive a first edition, fine art print of the piece. See the full details here.
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