Moms protesting school gun violence in Collier County on Tuesday

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Moms gathered outside the Collier County courthouse on Tuesday, and they all wanted lawmakers to protect their children from gun violence.

Chants from a street corner in Naples echoed throughout the state as one of many demonstrations organized by moms to demand action. The goal is to send a message to end gun violence.

All this comes one day after Ron DeSantis signed a permitless carry bill into law.

“Shame on the Governor! He is heartless! How can you do such a thing and say you love children and protect families? Hypocrite,” Dr. Dianna Mattern of Naples said.

Dr. Mattern has had enough. She remembers working as a high school principal the day Columbine happened.

“I called a faculty meeting. And I said I don’t know what we’re going to say to the kids,” Dr. Mattern said. “Because it hasn’t stopped since Columbine.”

She was crushed to see another school shooting last week in Nashville, where three adults and three kids were killed.

Others at the Collier County courthouse on Tuesday share that pain.

“Their parents sent their children to school to learn,” Kim Craig from Moms Demand Action said.

“To have people walk into churches, walk into shopping centers and you know there isn’t anyone of us that’s safe anymore,” John Reynolds of Naples said.

As people honked in support as they drove by, the hope is lawmakers listen too.

“It’s an epidemic and we are really tired of coming to this courthouse and pleading with our legislators to make a change,” Craig said.

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