As the US continues to deal with the aftermaths of several mass shootings, the Florida governor signed a new bill allowing residents to carry concealed guns in public without a permit. Read to know more.
Ron DeSantis gives the okay to carry concealed guns in public
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a new bill allowing residents to carry concealed guns in public without a permit. He reportedly signed it in a private ceremony. According to it, starting July 1, Floridians owning a gun legally can carry it without a permit. This means that background checks and training needed to carry concealed guns in public are no longer needed. The Governor’s office in a public comment called it a “Constitutional Carry is in the books.”
Republicans lauded the bill, stating “law-abiding” citizens must be able to protect themselves. However, Democrats and advocates of gun safety booed the decision. They believe it is going to make the law more dangerous. Additionally, it has the potential to lead to more mass shootings and massacres.
More on the new bill
The new bill comes five years following the then-governor Rick Scot signing a bill imposing weapons restrictions in Florida. Scott, a Republican took the step after Nikolar Cruz, a 19-year-old open fired on staff and students at the Miami suburb’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The mass shooting took 17 lives in total. Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime, a 14-year-old girl killed in the 2018 shooting stated he was “pissed” at DeSantis’ new bill permitting concealed guns in public.
“I will chase him down across the state as well as possible across the country … because Ron DeSantis today put his signature to a bill that guarantees there will be more Jaimes,” stated Guttenberg. “Somebody in Florida may die because of this legislation. That will be because of you, Ron DeSantis. I understand why you hid today. You are a weak, pathetic, small-minded individual,” he added, hinting at the bill’s signing behind closed doors.