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Florida House Speaker Paul Renner unveiled legislation on Monday that would permit people to carry concealed firearms without permits, describing the idea as an effort to “remove the government permission slip.”
Republican lawmakers and county sheriffs stood beside Renner, R-Palm Coast, to endorse the 63-page measure, which proponents refer to as “constitutional carry.”
“Central to the idea of freedom is the right that we can defend ourselves against physical attack, as well as defend those that we love. The Constitution did not give us those rights, the creator gave us those rights. But it does put it down on paper in the Second Amendment. And the courts have interpreted that to mean an individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense,” Renner said in his statement.
According to existing legislation, anyone who wish to carry concealed firearms must seek for a license from the state and complete a series of requirements. As of December 31, more than 2.62 million individuals held concealed firearm permits, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees the initiative.
HB 543 will be up for discussion by lawmakers during the upcoming legislative session, which will begin on March 7. When in actual possession of a hidden weapon or concealed firearm, a person would be required to “carry legitimate identification at all times and must produce such identification upon demand by a law enforcement official,” according to the Bill.
Additionally, existing laws on carrying firearms in public areas like schools and sporting events will remain in effect.
The plan would permit non-Florida residents who are at least 21 years old to carry concealed weapons.
The House bill is sponsored by Reps. Bobby Payne of Palatka and Chuck Brannan of Macclenny. Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, is anticipated to sponsor the Senate version, which as of early Monday afternoon had not been made available online.
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, made a statement in favor of the measure, which was included in a news release from the House. Additionally, Ron DeSantis, the governor, has already endorsed the notion.
“This bill is a big step to help the average law-abiding citizen to keep from having to go through the hoops of getting a permit from the government to carry their weapons. It is also not going to change who can and cannot carry a gun — people who are prohibited now will still be prohibited,” Brannan said.
The Florida House news release also stated that the proposal “does not affect laws relating to the purchase of a firearm and will not allow anyone prohibited from possessing a firearm to carry concealed.”
Democrats quickly opposed the bill, citing problems with the removal of a training requirement to carry a concealed weapon. However some have also engaged in disinformation saying the measure will impact the background checks for criminal records when purchasing a firearm.
“This is not constitutional carry, this is untrained carry. We have to be very clear and specific as to what the legislation actually does, and that is to remove the training requirement, and you will no longer have the check if you have something disqualifying you in your criminal record,” Said Democrat Rep. Christine Hunschofsky.
Sheriff John Mina of Orange County argued against the permitless carry bill in an editorial article for the Orlando Sentinel. He claimed that doing so puts police enforcement in the risky position of having to decide, often in less than a second, whether a person brandishing a firearm is acting in defense of their rights or intended to cause damage.
Al Nienhuis, sheriff of Hernando County, Florida, and head of the Florida Sheriffs Association, praised the Bill the news conference at the Capitol:
“We see incidents every day where law-abiding citizens that are armed with the ability to protect themselves interrupt active shooters, interrupt armed robberies, are able to protect themselves in all sorts of different scenarios,”
While this is going on, Renner stated that the House would present more legislation in the upcoming weeks to “go after gun crime,” such as snatching handguns from automobiles and using firearms in gang violence.
Additionally, Renner criticized local leaders for “creating an unsafe environment.”
The measure is also seen by Democrats as the latest in a long series of laws imbued with the culture war that Governor Ron DeSantis would support throughout the legislative session in order to further mobilize his conservative supporters as he gets ready for a potential run for president in 2024.
“This is another effort to appeal to his conservative base as he runs for president,” said the Democrat Rep. Anna Eskamani.
Independent Writer. Marketing and communications strategist for politicians, artists, public figures & corporate brands for more than 10 years. Contact: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)
Escritor independiente. Consultor en marketing y comunicaciones de políticos, artistas, figuras públicas y marcas por más de 10 años. Contacto: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)