The Florida House of Representatives has passed a controversial bill that would allow people to carry concealed firearms without a state concealed-weapons license.
The bill would remove the current licensing steps, including background screening and training, for people to carry concealed firearms. The bill has been met with opposition from Democrats who argue that easing gun restrictions will result in increased violence.
However, supporters of the bill, including Representative John Snyder, say that the bill will enhance public safety. The bill has cleared several major hurdles in the state legislature and is now ready for a full floor vote in both houses of the state legislature.
“At the end of the day, if somebody wakes up and makes a decision in their mind that they want to take someone else’s life, they are going to do that. There is no amount of training and there is no type of a law that can prevent those types of actions,” stated State Rep. John Snyder, R- Stuart.
Governor Ron DeSantis reportedly plans to sign the bill into law. The bill has been renamed from “permitless carry” to “public safety.” The elimination of concealed carry permits means that the required basic safety training will also be eliminated.
The bill has been a priority for Florida’s Republican supermajority, although some Republicans oppose it, saying that it doesn’t go far enough to allow free and open carry. The Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association support the bill. However, opponents of the bill argue that more people walking around with more guns make communities less safe, resulting in increased violence.
“Now we are here, expecting our youth to grow up in a state where people are conceal carrying firearms without any sort of training,” said State Rep. Johanna Lopez, D- Orlando.
The passing of this bill has sparked controversy and debate in Florida and beyond. The bill’s fate now rests in the hands of the Florida legislature and Governor DeSantis.
Source – Tru News Report
