“This isn’t Democrats, it’s Florida Republicans in the state Senate that are stopping pro-gun legislation,” said Luis Valdez, state director for the Gun Owners of America (GOA).
Valdez and other gun groups want the republicans to address some bills being proposed that would enhance gun rights at the state level.
Top of the list, open carry.
After a Florida Appeals court overturned the ban on open carry, the conversation has turned to clarity, as to what areas will be allowed for open carry and where restrictions will be imposed.
One of the debates being discussed, will open carry be treated the same as concealed carry, meaning where a person can and can’t carry like courthouses, legislative meetings, bars and gun free zones. Will open carry include long guns?
“I don’t see this as a black and white issue, I think we’re going to see a lot of discussion on this topic on the pros and cons,” said gun columnist Barney Bishop.
Another bill being proposed that gun rights groups want to see make it over the finish line is lowering firearm purchases from 21 to 18 when buying a long rifle.
In 2018, State Republicans increased the age after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Over the last few years, there has been support in the state house to lower the age, but the GOP-controlled state senate has defeated attempts when brought up.
Gun groups aren’t too optimistic that Republican lawmakers are listening. “The momentum is always there at the beginning of the session, and then the air is let out. We’ve seen this all before,” GOA Luis Valdez said.
Logan Edge, who is the Executive Director of Florida Gun Rights, says his group is ready to go to help pass pro-gun legislation. But Edge also says he’s hearing some GOP elected officials may try to water down the courts’ ruling on open carry.
National Association for Gun Rights Political Director Dustin Curtis said Florida gun owners won a massive victory after the state court ruled the ban on Open Carry unconstitutional, but said his group and other 2nd amendment supporters will not tolerate it if gun owners are stabbed in the back.
Gov. DeSantis says he supports and will sign bills that allow open carry and lower the purchasing age to buy a long rifle.
