PARKLAND, Fla. ā Marjory StonemanĀ Douglas student and activist David Hogg suggested Saturday that students should boycott trips to Florida for spring break until lawmakers enact gun legislation.
"Let's make a deal; Do notĀ come to Florida for spring break unless gun legislation is passed," Senior David Hogg said on Twitter.Ā "These politiciansĀ won't listen to us so maybe they'll listen to the billion-dollar tourism industry in Florida."
Visit Florida estimates that tourists bring more thanĀ $100Ā billion to the state each year. The organization estimates thatĀ the majority of students come to Florida for spring break during March and April.
Wendy Glaab, 60, of Fonthill, Ontario, Canada, was among the first to respond. "I like many Canadians travel to Florida from time to time to escape our winter. I canāt speak for others but I will not be returning until meaningful gun control legislation is in place."
Hogg'sĀ comments come afterĀ several companies have distanced themselves from the National Rifle Association after 19-year-old NikolasĀ Cruz killed 17 people at StonemanĀ Douglas on Feb. 14. On Saturday, Delta and United airlines ended discount programs for NRA members.
AxiosĀ reported Saturday that Bank of America is looking into how it does business with companies that manufactureĀ AR-15 rifles, the weapon used by Cruz and other mass shooters.
"Over 10 companies have severed their ties to the NRA in the last 24 hours. The impact weāre making is astounding," StonemanĀ Douglas student Sofie Whitney said.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has proposed a number of changes to the state's gun laws. Scott said he support raising the age to buy an AR-15 rifle. He also proposed strengthening background checks to keepĀ guns out of the hands of mentally ill people and banning bump stocks, a piece of equipment that enablesĀ a semiautomatic rifle to fire faster.
President Donald Trump has echoed Scott's positions on gun law while arguing that teachers should be armed inside schools. Scott does not believe teachers should be armed.
The NRA opposes raising the age limit to buy rifles and banning bump stocks.
The student activists said they welcomed Scott's proposals, but that those changes fall short of their demands, which include a ban on weapons like the AR-15 rifle.
Others replying to Hogg on Twitter suggested that musical acts cancel concerts in Florida until changes are made to the state's gun laws. The Twitter users cited decisions by Bruce Springsteen and other musicians to cancel tour stops in North Carolina after the state passed a law some viewed as discriminatoryĀ toward transgender people.
Hogg and other StonemanĀ Douglas students have been highly visible in recent days on national television shows, promoting their cause. The students are planning a protest in Washington next month. The March for Our Lives is set for March 24.
Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres and the Gucci Co. have all donated thousands of dollars toĀ the studentĀ group since the shooting.Ā