Florida’s Dangerous for Kids: Why They Should Leave Now

Key Takeaways:

• Florida is becoming a dangerous place for kids and teenagers.
• Hunger and lack of food are growing problems for children in the state.
• Governor DeSantis and other leaders are turning down federal money that could help feed hungry kids.
• Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in Florida.
• Florida leaders are making it easier to buy guns, not safer for kids.

A State in Crisis: Why Florida Is No Place for Kids

Imagine a place where kids are more likely to go hungry than learn, where guns are easier to get than healthcare, and where leaders seem more focused on politics than protecting the youngest citizens. Welcome to Florida in 2024, where being a child has become a risky proposition.

This isn’t about hurricanes or natural disasters. It’s about policies that put kids in danger. From starving children to skyrocketing gun violence, Florida’s leaders are failing its young people in shocking ways. Let’s break it down.

Hunger Games: Florida’s Hungry Kids

Over 2 million people in Florida struggle with hunger, and hundreds of thousands of them are children. Despite this, Governor Ron DeSantis has twice turned down $500 million in federal funds meant to help feed kids during the summer and school year. His team claims existing programs are enough, but experts disagree.

What’s Happening:

• Less than 10% of kids who get free or reduced-price school lunches also get summer meals.
• Over 70% of Floridians say it’s harder to afford groceries now than last year.
• Even middle-income families are struggling, with 60% saying it’s hard to put healthy food on the table.

Leaders like DeSantis are letting politics get in the way of feeding hungry kids. They’re saying no to help that could change lives.

Guns Over Kids: Florida’s Deadly Obsession

Guns are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S., and Florida is no exception. While other states are trying to make things safer, Florida is going the other way.

What’s Happening:

• More than 3,500 children died from gun violence in 2023.
• Black kids are 18 times more likely to be killed by guns than white kids.
• Florida’s governor wants to make it easier for young adults to buy guns and repeal laws that keep guns away from dangerous people.

Instead of taking real steps to stop gun violence, leaders are letting the gun lobby call the shots. They’re passing laws that make it easier to buy guns, not safer for kids.

Healthcare on the Back Burner

Florida is also failing its kids when it comes to healthcare. Governor DeSantis and other leaders have blocked Medicaid expansion, which would give hundreds of thousands of low-income residents access to medical care. This hurts kids the most.

What’s Happening:

• Up to 726,000 Floridians could get healthcare if Medicaid were expanded.
• Black and Latino communities are hit hardest by this decision.
• Many kids are left without the medical care they need to grow healthy and strong.

Instead of helping, Florida’s leaders are doubling down on policies that hurt the most vulnerable.

A Call to Action: Where Is the Outrage?

So why aren’t more people upset about this? Why aren’t there protests in the streets demanding change? Florida’s kids deserve better. They deserve leaders who put their safety and well-being above politics and greed.

What You Can Do:

1. Speak Up: Share this story with others to spread the word.
2. Demand Change: Call your representatives and ask them to support policies that protect kids.
3. Vote: Use your voice to elect leaders who care about children.

Florida’s kids can’t wait for help. They need action now.

Conclusion: Florida’s Future Is At Risk

Florida is supposed to be the Sunshine State, but for its kids, the future is looking dark. Hunger, gun violence, and lack of healthcare are just a few of the dangers they face every day. It’s time to ask: Why are Florida’s leaders failing its children so badly?

The answer is clear: They’re more focused on politics and power than on protecting the people they were elected to serve.

If things don’t change, Florida will keep losing its children to preventable tragedies. The time to act is now.