DeSantis signs permitless carry into law

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a permitless carry measure into law Monday.

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

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

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 the protection of interstate concealed carry reciprocity agreements.

“You don’t need a permission slip from the government to exercise your constitutional rights. We are restoring the Second Amendment here in the Free State of Florida,” Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, who sponsored the Senate proposal, said on Twitter.

Rep. Robert Charles Brannan, R-Macclenny, sponsored the measure in the House.

The permitless carry measure takes effect July 1, 2023.

Under the law, any person carrying concealed without a license must abide by current laws that forbid carrying a concealed weapon or firearm in some locations, including schools, sporting events, and detention centers.

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

During debate on the bill, some advocates said the bill did not go far enough and urged the legalization of “open carry.”

DeSantis recently said he was open to a special session for “open carry” if he had the votes for it.

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.

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.