March 4, 2018
Dear Colleague,
Yesterday, the Florida Senate rejected a ban on assault weapons as well as an amendment to allow police to seize weapons from someone under domestic violence injunction. Two weeks ago, as the Parkland students were marching to their state legislature to plead for safer gun control measures, their politicians were in session voting to disallow any conversation or debate on the ban of assault weapons. The Governor of Florida had created incentives for gun manufacturers to move to Florida. Senator Rubio and the majority of his Republican colleagues in the Florida legislature have voted against any meaningful firearm safety legislation.
In November 2018, the AAP is scheduled to hold its annual conference in Orlando. This is occurring as Florida students, themselves, are asking for people and businesses to boycott events and activities in Florida. Major corporations, businesses and investment firms have changed or are considering a change to their policies on supporting the NRA and/or banning the sale of assault weapons.
I ASK YOU NOW TO DO SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE ONLY A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME. CALL, EMAIL, OR TWEET THE NATIONAL AAP OFFICE AND THE MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF THE AAP EXPRESSING THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF MOVING THE 2018 NATIONAL AAP CONFERENCE OUT OF FLORIDA TO A CITY THAT IS LEGITIMATELY AND DELIBERATELY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES RELATED TO THE USE OF FIREARMS.
We must be more than an advocate for these students. We must now be an ally, walking and protesting beside these courageous teens and their families. It will take only a moment of your time to offer the clear message to politicians that pediatricians and our pediatric provider colleagues will be direct, firm and active in this effort. Letters and lobbying efforts certainly need to continue but we can do more. Saying “MOVE THE AAP CONFERENCE” will deliver that message. Thank you. PLEASE SEND THAT “MOVE THE AAP CONFERENCE” MESSAGE NOW. THE TIMING IS CRITICAL.
For our Children,
Matt Masiello, M.D., MPH, FAAP
“MOVE THE AAP CONFERENCE” message to:
The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
781-895-9852
chaggerty@mcaap.org
@MassChapAAP
American Academy of Pediatrics
202-347-8600
dmiller@aap.org
@AmerAcadPeds
Matt Masiello, M.D., MPH 