Posted on 03/24/2023 10:08:21 AM PDT by conservative98
Less than 24 hours after a GOP lawmaker filed an amendment to gun legislation that could potentially allow open carrying of firearms in Florida it has been withdrawn, disappointing Second Amendment advocates.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.
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.
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Curiously absent during much of the public discussion about open carry has been Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has said twice publicly when asked that he supports the open carry provision and would sign such a bill into law, if the Legislature sent such a bill to his desk.
That somewhat passive stance has alienated some gun rights advocates like Matt Collins. He told the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee earlier this month that DeSantis looked “impotent” in failing to get GOP leadership to rally behind open carry.
“I like Gov. DeSantis, but quite frankly, the inability to get open carry included in this bill is embarrassing for him,” Collins said. “It’s failed leadership and it’s weak. And finally, it begs the question that if the governor cannot get a very friendly Legislature to add open carry to this bill, then how do we think he’s going to do trying to convince Congress to act on anything if he becomes president?”
(Excerpt) Read more at floridapolitics.com ...
Gun rights advocates have criticized the permitless (or as they prefer the term “constitutional carry”) carry bill as not being “true constitutional carry” because it does not allow for the open display of firearms — a measure that is allowed in all but three states in the country (Illinois and New York are the other two states).
BREAKING: DeSantis caves on getting ‘Open Carry’ passed, Florida legislature won’t even vote on it now pic.twitter.com/d0tGaiivE9— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) March 23, 2023
Looks like GOP-E Boy (DeSantis) is flailing.
With an open carry law, printing and flashing don't matter.
Another reason why the gop is called the stupid party.
We are very much on the same page. Open carry is a bit vulgar in my view but it certainly should be legal. You named just a few of the reasons.
All this yapping about "DeSantis folded" and other doom-and-gloom negativism is exactly that -- yapping.
It's a sad and perhaps surprising fact that, despite conservatism's large gain on many front via the Florida legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis, respect for firearms freedoms is somewhat lacking among the senior ranks of the GOP majority. As a direct result, if the 'permitless concealed carry' was to have a chance to pass, we have to settle for that right now and go for open carry later. This RealPolitik approach is not new, or unique.
We'll get open carry, too. Just not right now.
Shoot outs at Publix, blood in the streets, tourists being killed for their rental cars....... Is that the false argument?
Good step in the right direction, the “printing” and “flashing” need to be addressed but I for one don’t care about the idea of everyone seeing I have a weapon.
Concealed is good and way past time for it.
Imagine a 70 year old female with a 45 strapped to her hip and how easy it would be to disarm her.
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Remember Trump put thru the ban on bump stocks after the shooting in Las Vegas I’m curious what your opinion on that is
This development is not a surprise to me. However, it is a disappointment.
Incrementalism is how gun rights were lost, incrementalism is the easiest way to get them back. Throwing a temper tantrum and demanding everything NAO NAO NAO NAO like a spoilt child is not going to do any good and may do considerable harm.
Take what you can get for now, come back for the rest later.
What exactly severe penalties???
Name them.....printing, breeze blows your shirt up?
That was taken care of long ago so Yankee tourists wouldn’t go into vapor lock.
We have open carry in Washington State. I’ve lived here all my life and rarely see anyone open carry. People would much rather conceal their weapons.
JUST IN: @GovRonDeSantis has CAVED on his promise of constitutional and open carry.
I called this in January 2023.
People attacked me for telling you the truth, but once again, I am right about DeSantis being a liar and a showboater. He supports red flag laws. Always has. https://t.co/zJQhYCRLQH pic.twitter.com/8rEhGN1RrB— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 23, 2023
This is an important thing to consider even for people who don't support open carry. I rarely carry openly, but having the option rocks.
We have open carry just not generalized. You are permitted to open carry to and from fishing, camping, and hunting activities. I’ve done it myself quite often and aside from some strange glances at Publix, most people don’t care.
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