Topline
Florida’s GOP-controlled legislature voted overwhelmingly Thursday to allow people to carry concealed firearms anywhere in the state without a permit—a bill which, if signed into law by Gov. Ron Desantis (R), will make Florida the 26th state with such laws.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to pass a bill approved by Florida’s state legislature Thursday … [+]
Key Facts
Florida’s Senate voted 27-13 Thursday to pass the bill, which would do away with Florida’s requirement under state law to obtain a concealed weapons permit and undergo background checks and firearms training in order to carry a concealed gun.
Florida’s house had passed the bill by a vote of 76-32 last week.
If signed into law, gun owners would only need to hold a valid ID to carry a concealed weapon, with a $25 fine for failing to do so.
Florida would also become the 26th state to pass a law allowing permitless concealed carry, according to the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, amid a wave of GOP-led initiatives to loosen gun regulation, despite calls from Democratic lawmakers and gun violence prevention groups to tighten them.
Permitless concealed carry is also legal in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming and North Dakota, which allows it for residents only.
What To Watch For
After passing both chambers, the bill now heads to DeSantis’ desk. DeSantis, who is believed to be planning a 2024 presidential run, is expected to sign the bill into law — he had previously told reporters the bill is “something that I’ve always supported.”
Key Background
The Florida Senate’s approval of the bill comes three days after six people were killed, including three children, at an elementary school in Nashville, after police say a 28-year-old former student opened fire. Local police said the alleged shooter, identified as Audrey Hale, possessed two AR-style weapons, including a rifle and a pistol, as well as a handgun. In the wake of the shooting, Democratic lawmakers have called for renewed gun control measures, including President Joe Biden, who called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, an effort that failed to pass the Senate late last year. Republican lawmakers, on the other hand, reiterated calls for stricter school security measures and mental health resources, which they argue are necessary to curb mass shootings. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) argued in a speech this week Democrats’ calls for gun reform measures amount to taking guns “away from law-abiding citizens before they even know the facts,” saying, “that’s not the answer.” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), also shot down the idea of enhanced gun control measures, telling reporters at a press conference, “I don’t think one piece of legislation solves this.”
Tangent
On Thursday, DeSantis visited a gun store outside Atlanta, dubbed “the world’s largest gun store,” as part of a book tour promoting his book, The Courage to Be Free, a move that sparked pushback from Georgia Democrats, who issued a statement condemning the visit just days after the Nashville shooting. Georgia Democrats also argued the bill in Florida’s legislature would “make it easier for criminals to carry guns” and “make children in his state even less safe.”
Further Reading
Nashville Police Found And Shot Covenant School Suspect Within Minutes, Body Camera Footage Shows (Forbes)
Senate Chaplain Urges Congress To ‘Move Beyond Thoughts And Prayers’ After Nashville School Shooting (Forbes)
Biden Announces New Gun Control Measures—Here’s What His Executive Order Will Do (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/03/30/florida-legislature-sends-permitless-gun-bill-to-desantis-who-could-make-florida-the-26th-state-with-permitless-concealed-carry/