Update on Florida’s Gun Laws
BY Herschel Smith
1 day, 17 hours ago
A controversial proposal to repeal a law that prevents people under age 21 from buying rifles and shotguns in Florida is positioned to go to the full House, but the issue remains on hold in the Senate. The Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted 16-6 to approve the bill (HB 759), which would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18. Rep. Hillary Cassel, R-Dania Beach, joined Democrats in opposing the bill.
The Legislature and then-Gov. Rick Scott increased the minimum age for gun purchases to 21 after the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people. The House approved repeal bills in 2023 and 2024, but the measures did not get through the Senate. With the Legislature ending its third week of this year’s regular session, a Senate bill (SB 920) that would roll back the age limit has not been heard in committees. Asked about the issue Wednesday, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, tearfully recalled walking the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and seeing damage from the mass shooting. But he also said he takes serious Second Amendment rights and is a lifetime National Rifle Association member. “I don’t have an answer for that right now,” Albritton said. “Like I do everything. I am thinking this through.”
Bah. Lifetime NRA member. So much for 2A rights. He should have been ejected from the NRA long ago if it was worth anything.
Next up, open carry.
Would be great to see it hit my desk — Florida needs to join the overwhelming majority of states and protect this right… https://t.co/IVB1lOwUEO
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 31, 2025
I don’t know if I believe that Florida Sheriffs support open carry, but the police sure don’t. They align with the controllers every time.
It’s a fight in Florida and has been for a very long time.
Ron Desantis could end it instantly and once and for all. He could refuse to sign another bill, including budget, until an open carry bill hits his desk for signature. He could do the same thing for age restrictions.
On March 24, 2025 at 10:53 am, Michael (from Utah) said:
Your last paragraph is exactly the way Desantis should handle this. Whether he does…is another matter.
On March 24, 2025 at 8:20 pm, Grunt said:
De Santis is a politician first. Granted one of the best we have, but nonetheless. Of course cops don’t like it. RESPECT MUH AUTHORITI!! It’s called the monopoly of force. Why would cops want to have people equally armed? They don’t want law abiding people equally armed! What does that tell you. Bad people don’t care and will have guns regardless of the laws. They know that!! I lived in S Florida for too many decades. I was never more afraid than when cops were around. Just one of the Bill of Rights that cops hate! Oh yeah, don’t they have to swear an oath to the Constitution??!! This from a former paratrooper and all! Trained to use evil guns.