Florida House Speaker Paul Renner announced that the state will allow citizens to carry concealed firearms without a permit. The bill, led by a GOP representative and senator, would also not require those who want to exercise their constitutional right to undergo training. Governor Ron DeSantis has already reiterated on several occasions that if the law reaches his desk and is approved by the legislators, he will sign it without hesitation.
The promoters have named the law Constitutional Carry, this is to emphasize that it is a measure that strictly complies with the Second Amendment. This is a very important rule for the Republican Party in the state, as evidenced by the fact that it was Renner himself who was personally in charge of presenting the document to be submitted to both the House and Senate.
#TheFloridaWay respects Floridians' right to bear arms. HB 543 ensures that those who are eligible to own a gun do not need additional permission from the government to carry it. pic.twitter.com/7aYv1J00cd
— Paul Renner (@Paul_Renner) January 30, 2023
Florida, pioneer in allowing concealed carry
"Florida led the nation in allowing for concealed carry, and that extends today as we remove the government permission slip to exercise a constitutional right," said Renner, who was accompanied by several county sheriffs. The rules will be introduced and defended in their respective chambers by State Representative Chuck Brannan and Senator Jay Collins.
Thank you to Speaker @Paul_Renner, Representative Chuck Brannan, and Senator @JayCollinsFL for having the sheriffs today to announce legislation for Constitutional Permitless Carry.
“Our Constitution protects gun ownership rights and the ability to carry a firearm..."
🧵(1/3) pic.twitter.com/K9E93Pdwvp
— Florida Sheriffs Association (@FLSheriffs) January 30, 2023
Both Renner and the conservative legislators wanted to explain that the Constitutional Carry will allow "those persons qualified to obtain a concealed weapons license to be able to carry a concealed weapon without any license." With the implementation of the law, it "reduces the burden on law-abiding individuals to carry concealed weapons, saving taxpayers time and money."
Florida sheriffs support the law
In a post on Twitter, Renner emphasized that this law does not mean a waepons, free for all. For example, "a person who carries a concealed weapon without a license will still be required to obey existing laws prohibiting carrying in such places as schools, sport events and correctional facilities." In addition, the legislators insisted that the document "will not allow anyone prohibited from possessing a firearm to carry concealed." They also reminded that the law is only effective within the boundaries of Florida and that those citizens who wish to apply for a license may continue to do so.
The announcement generated a furious reaction among Democratic politicians, who immediately denounced the fact that Constitutional Carry will flood Florida with untrained armed personnel. In statements to Politico, several blue state congressmen accused Gov. DeSantis of taking advantage of his supermajorities in both chambers to promote policies that generate enthusiasm among GOP supporters.
Democrats: "It jeopardizes security"
According to Democratic State Congresswoman Ana Eskamani, she believes this is an "extremist" rule that "jeopardizes public health and safety" of Floridians. The blue representative insisted that "freedom should include the freedom to live a life free of gun violence."
and the evidence is clear that this policy is bad for public safety, and passing it will be dangerous. Florida families and communities deserve real solutions to address gun violence—not extremist proposals that jeopardize public health and safety. 2/2
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) January 30, 2023
1.7 million defensive uses of weapons per year
According to several studies, most Americans who own guns do so to "protect" themselves. In this regard, according to the Annual Weapons Report, an average of 1.67 million defensive uses of firearms are made each year. This statistic does not mean that the weapon was fired, but its use in any form (including deterrence). The analysis concluded that 81.9% only needed to wield the weapon to repel the aggression. At a time of rising crime and mass shootings, more and more citizens are choosing to exercise their Second Amendment rights to protect themselves and their families.
