Florida Lawmaker to File Open Carry Bill

Florida is one of four states that doesn’t allow open carry in any meaningful way. For a relatively pro-gun state, it’s odd company it finds itself in, joining California, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

And this is a state sometimes referred to as “The Gunshine State.”

It’s not one of the better states on gun laws in general, especially post-Parkland, but the prohibition on open carry unless you’re engaged in some kind of “outdoor activity” such as hunting, fishing, or camping, is kind of stupid.

Now, a lawmaker there is looking to change that with a new bill.

An open carry bill will be filed in the House, though its sponsor acknowledges the gun rights legislation may face resistance.

Rep. Monique Miller, a Palm Bay Republican, said she has a bill in drafting that would allow anyone in Florida to openly carry firearms. She said the issue is especially important in the state for women who own guns.

“Sometimes women have to choose between protecting themselves and what they want to wear that day,” Miller said. “Women have to worry that if they have a gun showing they could face 60 days in jail.”

This isn’t the first time there has been a push for open carry legislation in the House. Former Rep. Joel Rudman late last year filed an open carry bill, but it was withdrawn when he resigned from the House to run for Congress.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis has repeatedly said he would sign an open carry bill, and even hinted at calling a Special Session for such a policy when he was running for President in 2023. The same year, he signed a permitless carry measure.

This should be a slam dunk. Republicans control both chambers of the legislature, the governor supports the measure, what could be the possible holdup?

Well, it seems some Republicans in the Senate are opposed to open carry. 

They passed permitless concealed carry, mind you, but having a firearm openly displayed–something criminals do not and will not do–is a bridge too far for them. They’ve outright said they won’t approve open carry legislation.

Which means it’s on Florida voters to do something about it. These are people who pretend to be pro-gun when it’s campaign season, but they’re nothing of the sort. They want the whole “out of sight, out of mind” thing. They don’t support people’s rights, they just want to keep their jobs and they thought permitless concealed carry would be enough.

Well, I have a few friends in the Florida gun rights community and I can assure you, it’s not.

It’s time to go scalp hunting, folks–metaphorically speaking, of course. If Republicans won’t do Republican things, then primary them. Vote against them and oust them from their roles and replace them with people who will support the right to keep and bear arms and recognize that “shall not be infringed” doesn’t really mean “we can infringe just a smidge.”

Miller’s bill should pass. It should end up on DeSantis’s desk for his signature. This should be a no-brainer.

The fact that we’re having this discussion is downright asinine, especially in a state that some lawmakers have literally referred to as the freest state in the union–yes, I heard that live and with my own ears last year–but here we are. Now, it’s time for the state Senate to put up or shut up.