The Florida Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday its turning its sights to a new topic: public safety. It is bringing a coalition of leaders together to address school and workplace safety.
The Institute for a Safer Florida says it will share best practices with experts, give businesses and schools tools to enhance safety and advocate for legislative solutions.
Noting deadly shootings in Parkland, Jacksonville, Sebring, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, spokeswoman Alia Faraj-Johnson said more can be done to prevent these acts.
“These horrible events have cost dozens and dozens of innocent lives," said Faraj-Johnson. "They have also left us with unanswered questions about what more we can do to make our schools and workplaces safer. This morning, we’re announcing the launch of Institute for a Safer Florida which will seek to find those answers to those pressing questions.”
But, ISF won’t talk about guns. The Chamber's president, Mark Wilson, said it is not the organization's focus.
"Our role will be to help school leaders and law enforcement leaders and mental health leaders and business leaders to find best solutions, share them, advocate them,” said Wilson.
Instead, the group is turning its attention to four issues: school safety, workplace safety, mental health and public safety.
It hopes to supplement findings of organizations like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission by fostering communication between law enforcement, school staff and mental health experts, and by researching and sharing public safety program.
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