Will Florida Allow Permitless Concealed Weapons?
February 7, 2023 11:58pm
I just got home from Tallahassee where I spent the day at The Capitol meeting with lawmakers and attending the hearing of the House Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law & Government Operations Subcommittee, which is considering HB 543 that would drop the permit requirement to lawfully carry a concealed weapon in the state of Florida.
The bill in its current form does not eliminate concealed carry permits in Florida. It would just render them unnecessary. But if someone wanted a permit (perhaps for reciprocity with other states), one could still be obtained. Also in its current form, the bill makes no changes to Florida's prohibitions on open carry. That has angered many pro-Second Amendment advocates. While open carry should be legal in Florida as it is in 46 other states, HB 543 should still be supported without it. HB 543 isn't perfect. And Florida still has a long way to go in restoring Second Amendment Rights that have been legislated away over the years. But HB 543 is a step in the right direction. Our rights were not taken away in a single act, and they will not all be restored in a single act. But any bill that moves us toward true constitutional carry should be supported. We must not allow perfection to be the enemy of good.
While at The Capitol, I met with Eric Friday, the general counsel and lobbyist for Florida Carry about the proposed law. He and I were both at today's committee hearing about that bill, and I interviewed him afterwards. That interview will air this Saturday on WPNN Radio from 7a - 8a (CT). Within an hour of airing, it will be put online as a podcast.
The usual gaggle of anti-gun enemies of our Constitution are up in arms about this bill (if you'll pardon the expression). They claim it would lead to more gun murders even though that hasn't happened in the 25 states that currently allow permitless carry. Many who spoke in opposition at today's committee hearing cited the murders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Pulse nightclub, and the FSU library as reasons permitless carry should not be allowed, while completely ignoring the fact that the evil killers who committed those crimes already ignored Florida's laws against carrying firearms and murdering people.
The bill passed the committee today on a 10 - 5 vote with all Republicans supporting it, and all Democrats opposing it. No surprise in that, huh? Democrats typically oppose our Constitutional Rights.
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UPDATED February 11, 2023 @ 9:19am: My interview with Eric Friday, the general counsel and lobbyist for Florida Carry, aired this morning and is now archived online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/230211