Giffords Gives Florida 'F' for Weak Gun Laws, High Death Rate

Florida is among 25 states that got an "F" on an annual scorecard released Wednesday by a gun-control group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz.

The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gives California an "A" — the only one of the 50 states to win the top grade, citing its tough gun laws and low gun-death rate.

At the bottom of the list is Alaska, which the center cites for some of the country's least restrictive gun laws and highest gun death rate.

Florida emerged as a key battleground in the gun debate after a gunman opened fire in a Parkland, Fla., high school Feb. 14, killing 17 people. According to the Giffords' score card, Florida is among the 25 states with the weakest gun laws and highest gun death rates.

In its scoring, the center wrote it found "a simple but undeniable correlation – states with strong gun safety laws have fewer gun deaths per capita than states with weak laws."

"In short, gun laws work," it wrote.

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