Floridians could openly carry firearms in public and wouldn’t need a permit to carry them concealed under legislation that now has the endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis.
There’s one problem though… The bill hasn’t received a single hearing in either legislative chamber.
While the sponsor of the constitutional carry bill thinks it will be enough to pull the bill directly on the House floor for a vote, opponents don’t seem all that worried.
Governor Ron DeSantis was asked if he would support constitutional carry at a press conference Thursday morning.
His direct response: “Put it on my desk I’ll sign it”.
State Representative Anthony Sabatini (R-Howie-in-the-Hills) is sponsoring the bill.
It would remove firearm permitting requirements and allow Floridians to openly carry.
“Any legal firearm that a Floridian is able to purchase and have for their own self-defense, so you know typical rifles, shotguns, pistols, should be able to carry those firearms without permission from the government,” said Sabatini.
But the legislation on this bill is on life support.
It hasn’t gotten a single hearing in either chamber and the Governor’s endorsement came with only nine days remaining in the legislative session.
“The notion that a bill as substantial as this would just come to the floor without going through the committee process is highly unlikely,” said State Representative Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando).
Democratic State Representative Anna Eskamani not only believes constitutional carry is likely dead in the water this year, but she argues it’s dangerous public policy.
“In cases of mass shootings, it becomes very difficult to even detect who is the perpetrator of that act of violence. That’s why so many law enforcement officers have opposed something like open carry,” said Eskamani.
Sabatini on the other hand thinks the Governor’s endorsement carries enough weight to push the bill over the finish line.
“The Governor is demanding that this bill pass. He wants it on his desk and the RINO Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls is still blocking it. We can waive the rules and bring it to the floor immediately if they wish, and it’s time we do that,” said Sabatini.
Twenty-two states have approved a form of legal constitutional carry law on the books.
Sabatini said two more are expected to pass laws by the end of this year.
We’ll know whether Florida will join the ranks by the end of next week.
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