Earlier this month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis used his bully pulpit to push the Florida State Legislature to move in a pro-Second Amendment direction.
On March 2, 2022, DeSantis urged Florida elected officials to pass Constitutional Carry. During a press event at Panama City, DeSantis was asked by a reporter about Constitutional Carry
DeSantis succinctly responded: “Put it on my desk; I’ll sign it.” Back in November, DeSantis told Matt Collins, the Director of Legislation for Florida Gun Rights, that he would sign Constitutional Carry into law.
Despite Republicans holding solid majorities in the State House (78-41) and State Senate (24-15), they have yet to make any meaningful moves on Constitutional Carry.
With the exception of Anthony Sabatini, Republicans have generally been useless when pushing for Constitutional Carry in the Sunshine State. We shouldn’t forget that it was a Republican controlled legislature that passed SB 7026 a bill that contained a bump stock ban, a red flag gun confiscation provision, an increase in the age to buy a gun to 21, and a three-day waiting period for all gun sales.
With these harsh realities in mind, pro-Second Amendment activists in Florida should recognize that the fight to pass Constitutional Carry won’t be a walk in the park. The fact that it will be difficult to pass this legislation should not be something that prevents activists from working hard to pass Constitutional Carry.
This will be a long and drawn out fight, so pro-liberty activists in Florida must prepare themselves accordingly. If Constitutional Carry does not get passed, the most practical course of action for activists is to primary Florida Republicans who vote against or roadblock this legislation.
