Florida ‘Open Carry’ measure now off the table, disappointing Second Amendment advocates
BY PGF
1 year, 9 months ago
Florida gun rights activists will have to settle for, at most, permitless carry this Legislative Session.
Less than 24 hours after a GOP lawmaker filed an amendment to gun legislation that could potentially allow open carrying of firearms in Florida has been withdrawn, disappointing Second Amendment advocates.
That leaves the gun legislation, a permitless carry bill, to proceed to a vote before the full Florida House of Representatives later this week.
Increments. We’ve been losing our rights over generations. Gun rights advocates must be willing to take a long-term approach to win them back.
That bill, HB 543, would repeal the requirement that Floridians who carry a concealed weapon must get a license through the state. It would also mean Floridians would not have to take a gun safety and training course.
Luis Valdes, the state director of Gun Owners of America, told the Phoenix that he was disappointed that the open carry amendment, which his organization has been advocating for, will no longer be considered.
“It comes down to legislative leadership,” Valdes said.
The amendment showed up Tuesday afternoon, when Hillsborough County Republican Mike Beltran filed the open carry amendment, electrifying gun rights advocates who have been pushing for more than a month for ‘open carry’ to be included in the permitless carry bill.
But Beltran withdrew the amendment shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
“I think it’s good policy, but this wasn’t the right vehicle or the right time,” Beltran told the Phoenix. “I think that we can try to lock in permitless and then where we can get this another time.”
House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo told reporters in Tallahassee two weeks ago that the permitless carry bill was fine just as it was crafted, without the open carry provision.
GOA is right; the problem is always squishy Republicans who are really just democrats pretending to support your rights.
On March 23, 2023 at 9:34 pm, Frank Clarke said:
Color me “unsurprised”.
On March 24, 2023 at 1:37 am, Ratus said:
It’s good that it wasn’t adopted, it was a very Fuddy version of open carry that required a “level 2 or higher” retention holster but also didn’t define what that was and a bunch of other crap.
On March 24, 2023 at 9:23 am, Thomas Madere said:
Here in Louisiana open carry has always been legal, I can’t remember the last time I saw someone open carrying.