Good News, Bad News for Florida Gun Owners

A year ago, at the Second Amendment Freedom Festival, I was outside chatting when I heard one of the speakers, a sitting lawmaker, talk about how Florida was the freest state in the nation. I looked at whoever I was chatting with and rolled my eyes. They did as well. Why? Because this is a legislator telling Floridians that they’re more free than everywhere else in a place where they know just how many stupid gun restrictions there are.

Just a bit north, in my home state of Georgia, those restrictions simply don’t exist, and they know it.

But those restrictions can be fixed. Groups like Florida Carry and Gun Owners of America have been trying to accomplish just that.

Unfortunately, it looks like they’re looking at a bit of good news, bad news right now.

Let’s start with the good news. It’s not shocking, but Gov. Ron DeSantis, in his State of the State address, called for gun rights reform.

In his annual State of the State Address, Gov. Ron DeSantis laid out his priorities of abolishing property taxes, repealing gun control laws and cleaning up the Everglades.

DeSantis gave a 30-minute speech to both chambers on what marks the first day of the Legislative Session.

…

DeSantis urged lawmakers to continue pushing condo reform and repeal gun control legislation, including the law that bans anyone under 21 from buying a gun, which was passed following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018.

“We need to be a strong Second Amendment state. I know many of you agree with it, and so let’s get some positive reform done for the people of this state of Florida,” DeSantis said.

The reaction to Parkland was perhaps understandable to some degree, it was still wrong and anyone who values gun rights knows it. Repealing the prohibition on adults under 21 buying long guns is very important. Doing that would be a huge win.

Unfortunately, that’s not the only battle to be fought.

Florida is one of four states that doesn’t allow open carry in almost any way. Sure, there are exceptions–if you’re hunting, fishing, or camping, and that’s it–but for the most part, it sides with California, Illinois, and New York. 

Not great company for the freest state in the nation, is it?

Luckily, Florida gun owners had a commitment from a legislator to introduce open carry legislation. That…did not go according to plan.

Florida State Representative Monique Miller, newly elected in the state’s Republican Party and a board member of Moms for Liberty, is facing a fierce backlash from her party and gun rights advocates for reneging on a high-profile promise to file an open carry bill during the 2025 legislative session. Once hailed as a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights, Miller’s reversal has ignited severe outrage among constituents and conservative groups, who accuse her of betraying voters and lacking the political acumen she claims to possess.

Miller campaigned heavily on her commitment to expand gun rights, particularly open carry, in a state where it remains one of only five banning the practice. In fact, it’s the only red state (The Free State of Florida) that bans open carry. In multiple public statements, including radio appearances on Bill Mick Live, she “swore” to file the bill, emphasizing its importance for women’s self-defense and aligning herself with Governor Ron DeSantis, who has repeatedly endorsed the measure. “I’m a big gun rights person, and open carry is definitely one of my priorities during my legislative career,” Miller declared in the interview, asserting that the bill was in drafting and she was committed to seeing it through. Famous conservative TV Host Dana Loesch who is a fierce 2A advocate retweeted the betrayal herself.

Many in the Florida gun rights community are calling Miller a traitor, and I can’t say they’re wrong.

The truth of the matter is that, to quote DeSantis in response to this, “There’s never a wrong time to do the right thing.” Miller claims that now is the wrong time for open carry, but I’m always sick of that argument. Especially when there’s no incident that might make it politically untenable now as opposed to later.

Miller leaned on gun rights groups like GOA to win her seat. Now, she’s being asked to do her part and this is what they’re getting.

DeSantis is on board with open carry. While there are roadblocks out there, Miller could at least introduce the bill. At least then she’d have done her part. Who knows, maybe the political pressure would remove those roadblocks and Florida would finally get open carry and remove at least one of the post-Parkland restrictions.

Unfortunately, we’ll never know because she says it’s not the right time to keep her word.

Folks, this is the kind of thing that should kill a political career once and for all.