Permitless carry heads to DeSantis’ desk

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Legislation legalizing the permitless carry of a concealed weapon or firearm, along with additional school safety measures, is on the way to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for final signature.

The bill, which passed 27-13, 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 Florida House previously passed the bill 76-32. Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, sponsored the bill in the Senate. It was carried by Rep. Robert Charles Brannan, R-Macclenny, and Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka.

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, 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.

Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach, opposed the bill during debate, and asked lawmakers to vote for “sanity.”

“This bill allows individuals to carry a lethal weapon locked and loaded, without any training. Maybe someone can explain to me in debate why that makes us safer. This legislation sends a message that mass gun ownership is good policy, but there’s no data to support that,” Berman said.

Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, voiced support for the bill.

“We’re talking about a constitutional right here, we’re not talking about privilege. […] I’m looking forward to the people who live on the fringes, and the people that are constantly getting wrapped up in this criminal prosecution game, because they haven’t got their paperwork straight,” Martin said.

“I’m looking forward to those people once and for all being treated like equals, being able to defend themselves, their property and their families, just like the rest of us,” he said.

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.

This bill will take effect starting July 1.