DeSantis flips U.S. into majority constitutional carry: ‘Historic day’

WEST BEND, Wis. (FLV) – The U.S. Concealed Carry Association celebrated the U.S. becoming a majority-constitutional carry nation after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a permitless carry measure into law Monday.

“This is a historic day as the majority of states in our nation now recognize the inherent right of every citizen to defend themselves, their loved ones and their communities with a firearm,” U.S. Concealed Carry Association Chairman and Co-Founder Tim Schmidt said.

Florida became the 26th state to allow permitless carry, also known as “Constitutional Carry.”

The law allows people to conceal a firearm without needing a permit from the government.

The U.S. Concealed Carry Association has been an advocate of states taking steps to modernize gun laws. They recently wrote a letter to the Florida Legislature and DeSantis in support of HB 543.

“On behalf of our 750,000 members nationwide, the USCCA thanks the Florida Legislature, Governor Ron DeSantis, and the countless Second Amendment champions across the country who have played a role in ensuring more responsible gun owners can exercise this fundamental right,” Schmidt said.

The hotly contested law passed in the House 76-32 and in the Senate 27-13 Monday.

Citizens would still be able to receive a concealed weapons permit in the state if they so choose. It would allow them to qualify for the protection of interstate concealed carry reciprocity agreements.

In response to the bill signing, House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said Floridians are “begging” lawmakers to prioritize safety.

“Floridians are asking for relief from skyrocketing health care, housing, and property insurance costs, which have gotten to the point they can’t afford to live here anymore. Florida House Democrats will continue to advocate for safe and responsible gun ownership policies that will help ensure that gun owners know how to operate a firearm and can keep themselves and those around them safe,” Driskell said.

The law also includes comprehensive school safety measures.

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, said military and law enforcement leaders believe eliminating the permit requirement will help Floridians protect themselves.

“This comprehensive legislation ensures our laws respect the constitutional rights of law-abiding Floridians while at the same time incorporating valuable tools recommended by law enforcement that will increase the safety of our schools and communities,” Passidomo said.

The law mandates the Department of Education create a behavioral threat assessment tool tailored to Florida, a threat management site, and a statewide behavioral threat management operational process.

“Our members and law-abiding gun owners from coast to coast know that exercising a right does not eliminate personal responsibility.  Firearms education and training are fundamental to their ability to protect themselves and others, but they don’t need a government mandate forcing them into it.  The USCCA will continue to support policies like constitutional carry in the states and National Concealed Carry Reciprocity in Congress,” Schmidt said. 

The law also mandates that the threat management team must include at least one instructional or administrative staff member who is personally familiar with the subject of the threat assessment.

Additionally, the measure permits private schools to collaborate with a security or law enforcement agency to appoint one or more safe-school officers.

The law would amend current law to add private schools to the list of entities that may request the sheriff in said school’s county to establish a guardian program for the purpose of training the private school employees.

The law also establishes the “Florida State Schools Canine Program.”

This program may designate a person, school, or business entity as a Florida Safe Schools Canine Partner if the person, school, or business entity provides a monetary or in kind donation to a law enforcement agency to purchase, train, or care for a firearm detection canine.