Blood on the streets of South Beach. Bodies piling up outside the Magic Kingdom. Tampa Bay running red. These are a few of the kinds of typically hysterical predictions we’ve seen and will likely to continue to hear now that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill into law making Florida the 26th state with permitless concealed carry.
As the Firearms Policy Coalition notes . . .
Under the new law, which takes effect on July 1, Floridians and non-residents 21 and older will no longer need a license to carry concealed, though individuals must still be legally eligible to possess handguns and be otherwise eligible for a concealed weapon license. Carry licenses will still be available to eligible individuals who wish to acquire one for various purposes, such as compliance with federal law prohibiting firearm possession in school zones (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)) and reciprocity with other states.
“Florida has now tipped the balance of power. More than half of the country will now be able to exercise their fundamental right to carry a firearm without needing a government-issued permission slip,” said Richard Thomson, FPC’s Vice President of Programs. “We look forward to the day when we can restore this right across the remaining 24 states.”
Amen and here’s hoping. But in the mean time, some people aren’t taking the news very well (and we don’t mean the gun rights supporters who worked hard to include open carry in the bill).
Polling shows that *77% of Floridians oppose* permitless carry.
DeSantis cowardly signed this lethal and unpopular bill behind closed doors. His reckless tactics will lead to lethal consequences.https://t.co/fgQmxlZ1O7
— Kris Brown | President, bradyunited.org (@KrisB_Brown) April 3, 2023
Hiding behind closed doors? Kris must have missed the results of the last election in which DeSantis won a 19-point landslide victory. Try to keep up, dear.
From the AP . . .
Floridians will be able to carry concealed guns without a permit under a bill Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Monday, giving the governor another legislative victory as he prepares a campaign for president.
The new law will allow anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry one without a permit. It means training and a background check will not be required to carry concealed guns in public. It takes effect July 1. …
Nearly 3 million Floridians have a concealed weapons permit. While a background check and three-day waiting period will still be required to purchase a gun from a licensed dealer, they are not required for private transactions or exchanges of weapons.
DeSantis has said he thinks Florida should go even further and allow people to openly carry guns. While some lawmakers have pushed for open carry, it doesn’t appear the Legislature will pass such legislation this session.
Here’s something colorful to brighten your Monday . . .
Updated GIF: pic.twitter.com/KPg2MTjDqY
— Rob Romano (@2Aupdates) April 3, 2023
Meanwhile, members of the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex aren’t dealing well with this latest defeat. There’s lots of seething going on without much coping.
BREAKING: Governor DeSantis just signed permitless carry into law behind closed doors, probably because he knows it’s dangerous & unpopular.
This bill was rushed through the legislature—and DeSantis signed it quietly with the NRA’s support and against Floridians’ wishes. #flleg pic.twitter.com/NgDAPWgykf
— GIFFORDS (@GiffordsCourage) April 3, 2023
DeSantis signs dangerous permitless carry bill into law in the shadows bc 61% of Floridians & 71% of Hispanic voters oppose the law. https://t.co/c3KqwD6t3R
— CAP Gun Violence Prevention (@CAPActionGVP) April 3, 2023
