TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Dozens of Tampa Bay crime survivors and their households left for Tallahassee on Tuesday morning in hopes of shaping public security coverage.
Households of homicide victims are calling on state lawmakers to go laws that may strengthen crime victims’ rights and public security.
They’re sharing their tales to show their ache into energy and therapeutic into motion.
“She was the nursing pupil who was gunned down Dec. 1 at Julian B. Lane Park,” stated LaMaria Smith.
Smith stated her 21-year-old daughter, Savannah Mathis, was within the flawed place on the flawed time..
“Possibly it may save different mother and father from what I’ve been by way of what my household has been by way of,” she stated.
Smith joined two dozen individuals on a bus that left Tampa earlier than 6 a.m. heading for the Florida Capitol. Some had photographs of their family members who’ve been murdered in hand. They’re demanding state lawmakers go laws that may assist the individuals most harmed by crime and violence.
The adjustments embrace:
- Three days of unpaid go away to households of murder victims,
- The advance to the state’s probation system, and
- To seal arrest information that don’t result in conviction.
“It opens up an avenue for us to have the ability to use our voices to get legal guidelines modified in order that our survivor lead,” stated Darla Sounders.
Darla and her husband, Elliott stated their son Isaiah Brooks was 18 years outdated when he was murdered in Feb. 6, 2005 in Tampa. The case stays unsolved.
Elliott leads the native chapter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, so different households don’t really feel like they do.
Every sharing their story with the hope that state lawmakers will hear.
Jacqueline Saddler Daniels’ 27-year-old son, Dwayne Sadler was murdered July 12, 2020 at a block social gathering on twenty second and Lake.
“He was a phenomenal particular person with an incredible smile,” she stated. “We’re out right here going to Tallahassee to attempt to battle in opposition to gun violence.”
