Permitless carry bill one step closer to law after passing Florida House

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Legislation legalizing the permitless carry of a concealed weapon or firearm, along with additional school safety measures, was passed by the Florida House.

The bill, which passed 76-32, would eliminate the current permitting requirement for Floridians who wish to carry a concealed weapon and allow any citizen, otherwise eligible to carry, to do so without said permit.

The proposed legislation would not eliminate the ability of citizens to acquire concealed weapon permits in the state. Floridians may still obtain a concealed weapon and firearm license in order to qualify for the protection of interstate concealed carry reciprocity agreements. 

Under the bill, HB 543, 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.

Rep. Robert Charles Brannan, R-Macclenny, and Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka, co-sponsored the bill.

The proposed legislation also includes a number of school safety measures.

The bill 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 legislation 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 bill 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 bill 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.

Rep. Lavon Bracy Davis, D-Orlando, opposed the bill in debate and mentioned the Orlando shooting that killed three people.

“Why are we making it easier for senseless gun violence? Why are we not having serious conversation about gun reform? […] Lets talk about racial impact. More black people will senselessly die. This begs the question, why are we making it easier to carry guns but harder to vote?” Davis said.

In closing, Brannan said a vote in support of this bill recognizes that while the government has a duty to protect its citizens, the citizens have a right to protect themselves.