Florida Governor Signs Important New Gun Law

I’ve been very hard on Florida lately, and not without reason. After all, this is an ostensibly pro-gun state with a Republican supermajority in the state legislature, and yet they can’t seem to get some key gun rights legislation through. It’s ridiculous.

This is easily the most restrictive pro-gun state in the entire nation, and gun rights advocates there know it good and well.

But I have to give lawmakers there a little bit of credit. They did manage to get something done this year.

On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed three bills into law — one of which makes a big change to state emergency statutes.

Two of these bills are slated to set harsher penalties for those who abuse animals in the state, such as by torture or tying up an abandoned animal during a hurricane.

But the third (HB 6025) repeals a provision of state law that automatically imposed firearm-related restrictions during a local state of emergency.

Previously, state law required that during an emergency arising from a threat of violence or public disorder, the following would be prohibited:

• The sale (or display for sale) of firearms or ammunition

• The intentional possession of a firearm in a public place (other than law enforcement or military)

The bill went into effect upon DeSantis’ signing it.

That’s good news, but let’s not overestimate the impact. This isn’t as big of a change as a lot of people might like to believe. 

For one thing, my understanding from some Floridians is that the law in question was almost never enforced, particularly in more gun-friendly parts of the state. 

Further, it’s unlikely that authorities, even in more gun-hostile parts of the state, would have the time to fool with some lawful gun owner possessing a firearm in public, especially if they’re just carrying to protect themselves.

Removing the ability for these parts of the state to screw with lawful gun owners is a good thing, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not something Florida lawmakers should be super proud of, either. Not when there are far more prevalent issues involving gun rights that they absolutely refused to do anything about, such as open carry and removing the state’s age restrictions on long gun purchases.

Yes, this needed to happen, and I’m glad it did, but there are much bigger fish to fry, and the legislature absolutely dropped the ball on it.

Actually, they didn’t.

“Dropping the ball” implies that they just screwed up. What passed and didn’t pass regarding guns this year wasn’t about mistakes or misjudgment. The two measures that didn’t make it were the result of willful actions by supposedly pro-gun lawmakers in an ostensibly pro-gun state.

I’m sorry, but those involved need to face primary challenges backed up by people all across the state. If they’re term-limited, then those in their districts need to start asking hard questions of potential successors, then hold them accountable when they’re elected. Do not let them get away with screwing you over like this.

Make them afraid for their jobs. Make them terrified of not advancing gun rights. If they do their best and fail because of others, that’s different, but if they just sit on their butts and refuse to respect your rights, we all need to make them pay.