— NRA (@NRA) April 3, 2023
Florida residents will be allowed to carry concealed firearms without a permit after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a Constitutional Carry bill into law on Monday. The move is viewed as another legislative victory for the governor, who is preparing for a presidential campaign.
The bill was signed in a private ceremony in DeSantis’ office, with his only public comment being “Constitutional Carry is in the books,” in a three-paragraph news release.
The new law will allow anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry one without a permit starting on July 1. Background checks and training will not be required for carrying concealed guns in public.
The debate surrounding the legislation was split along political lines, with Republicans arguing that law-abiding citizens have the right to carry guns for self-protection. Republicans believe that most people will still want to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons in states with reciprocal agreements and to buy guns without a waiting period.
However, Democrats and gun control advocates argue that the new law will only make the state more dangerous, pointing to past mass shootings in Florida such as the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando and the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
SEE ALSO: Nashville Shooter: One in Long Line of Killers Who Targeted the Defenseless
“I am pissed,” said Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, during an online news conference. “I will chase him down across the state as well as possibly across the country…because Ron DeSantis today put his signature to a bill that guarantees there will be more Jaimes.”
Guttenberg added that he believes DeSantis is a coward for signing the bill behind closed doors.
“Somebody in Florida may die … because of this legislation. That will be because of you, Ron DeSantis,” Guttenberg said. “I understand why you hid today … You are a weak, pathetic, small-minded individual.”
Almost 3 million Floridians have a concealed weapons permit. Although background checks and a three-day waiting period will still be required to buy guns from licensed dealers, they are not mandatory for private transactions or weapons exchanges.
Florida becomes the 26th Constitutional Carry State
— John R Lott Jr. (@JohnRLottJr) April 4, 2023
With Florida Gov DeSantis signing the state’s Constitutional Carry bill into law today, 26 states now have Constitutional Carry laws, representing 64% of US's land & 42% of the pop.#2a #GunControlhttps://t.co/U3ZYlheFcK
DeSantis has indicated that he thinks Florida should go further and allow people to openly carry guns. However, while some lawmakers have advocated for open carry, it is unlikely that such legislation will pass during this session.
The bill signing comes five years after former Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill imposing gun restrictions following the deaths of 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Under DeSantis, the momentum has shifted towards expanding gun rights rather than limiting them, earning him praise from gun-rights advocates.
SEE ALSO: Passing Constitutional Carry is ‘Madness,’ Says MSNBC Columnist
“Government will not get in the way of law-abiding Americans who want to defend themselves and their families,” said Republican Senator Jay Collins, who sponsored the bill, in a news release.
John Velleco, the Executive Vice President for Gun Owners of America, celebrated the new bill.
“It was a pleasure to attend the signing ceremony with Governor DeSantis today in Tallahassee, and we commend him for pushing lawmakers to right this discriminatory wrong from the state’s past,” Velleco said.
The bill was signed one week after six people were killed in a Nashville school shooting, which was highlighted by President Joe Biden’s administration.
“It is shameful that so soon after another tragic school shooting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a permitless concealed carry bill behind closed doors,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “This is the opposite of common-sense gun safety.”
As GunsAmerica previously reported, there is no evidence that crime rates increase in the wake of the passage of permitless carry laws. Fears and concerns over “blood in the streets” are totally unfounded. If Constitutional Carry was a threat to public safety, there’d be ample data to substantiate that claim as half the country has these laws on the books. And not one state has turned into the wild wild west.
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Guttenberg added that he believes DeSantis is a coward for signing the bill behind closed doors.
Really, Guttenberg?
The probable reason he did just that is because unhinged idiots, such as yourself, say things like—
“I will chase him down across the state as well as possibly across the country…”
We’ve seen enough threats and actual violence from you Left-wing jerks to warrant caution on the part of a high-profile politician like DeSantis. Sorry about your daughter, but you oughta take a cue from Andrew Pollack, the father of Meadow, who was also murdered on that awful day. Mr. Pollack has the right attitude & perspective on the the issue. You clearly don’t!
And in case you think I’m just an insensitive lout who doesn’t care… I went on a charity motorcycle ride to raise funds to build a memorial park in honor of the victims who died in that tragedy. The ride ended at the Pollack residence, where we celebrated the victims. Funny, I don’t remember seeing you on the ride or at the Pollack house. Natch.
Wow !
An original post , not just impertinent replies to someone else’s .
I’m impressed .
If every criminal had to think twice about a person they are thinking about robbing might have a gun on them, they most likely won’t rob them !
fred guttenberg is an idiot. Criminals will always find a way to get a gun despite what any law says. Every state should have constitutional carry. FJB, Si Vis Pacem Parabellum!
PERMITLESS Concealed Carry is not Constitutional Carry.
Where is Open Carry and Campus Carry?
The same people opposing it this time opposed it every time before in Florida. The RINOs and The Florida Sheriffs Association. NRA’s Marion Hammer has helped kill it before. Look up Paula Dockery and Ellyn Bogdanoff. Florida is RINO country. Its Republican but they are RINOs.
Desanctus is a RINO. He is a fraud.
THIS WEBSITE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO CALL THIS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY.
@DG, you listen to way too much cnn. Gov. DeSantis has done a lot of good for Florida. He kept Florida open during the coof. He’s fighting the degeneracy coming from disney. Do you even live in Florida? If not, STFU. FJB.
I’m from FL and I’m saying you’re full of it on the RINO thing. Sure, there ARE RINOs in the GOP, but to tar them all as such is plain stupidity. And you calling Ron DeSantis a RINO is worse than me calling you sensible. I know Ron, I campaigned for him, and I can tell you he’s no RINO.
Bet you think Trump is a RINO, too. Biden 2024, G D?
So the state that brought us Trayvon Martin now offers permitless carry?
The “state that brought us Trayvon Martin”? You mean, a thug that got shot trying to kill another man? You think the “state” gave us Martin? Hmmmm, I think his folks might a bit more responsible for Martin’s behavior, not the “state”. Your socialist leanings are on full display in this comment HimBlueBoy.
Hey bluewaffle, look at all the strict gun laws in chiraq and see how many murders they have every year. Where are all these mass shootings happening?! Gun free zones. Criminals will always find a way to get a gun. Look what happened to the U.K; all their guns were taken a way and now they have a huge uptick in knifings. FJB! Si Vis Pacem Parabellum.
What a strange person .
It’s because there are too many “Trayvon Martin’s” out there that there Should be permitless carry… everywhere.
Leave it to the Blue Dog(he/him/they/it) to make another clueless, HUTA comment.
Hey bluedouche it/clown, do you ever engage your brain before you spew this liberal crap, do us all a favor and get lost you groomer.