Eleanor Finch
On April 4, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill (HB) 543, allowing eligible residents to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit. Dubbed Constitutional Carry, the bill strengthens Second Amendment rights by removing the licensing requirement and its associated $97 fee. The law will take effect on July 1, 2023, making Florida the 26th state to enact such legislation. DeSantis, who has expressed support for the constitutional right to bear arms, signed the bill in a private ceremony, stating, Constitutional Carry is in the books.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Bill | House Bill (HB) 543 |
| Signed by | Governor Ron DeSantis |
| Date of signing | 4 April 2023 |
| Effective from | 1 July 2023 |
| State | Florida |
| No requirement of | Government-issued permit, training, and background check |
| Number of permit holders in the state | Nearly 3 million |
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What You'll Learn
- DeSantis signed the bill in a private ceremony
- The bill removes the need for a permit, training, and background checks
- The bill strengthens Floridians' Second Amendment rights
- DeSantis' gun law for 'permitless carry' is deemed unconstitutional
- The bill comes five years after gun restrictions were put in place
DeSantis signed the bill in a private ceremony
On April 4, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 543, also known as "Constitutional Carry", in a private ceremony in his office. The bill allows Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit. DeSantis' only immediate public comment after the signing was, "Constitutional Carry is in the books," which was included in a three-paragraph news release.
The new law, which takes effect on July 1, 2023, means that training and background checks will no longer be required for individuals to carry concealed guns in public in Florida. This makes Florida the 26th state to enact Constitutional Carry legislation.
DeSantis' decision to sign the bill in a private ceremony was criticised by some. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, "It is shameful that so soon after another tragic school shooting, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a permitless concealed carry bill behind closed doors." DeSantis was also criticised by Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting. Guttenberg called DeSantis a "coward" and said, "I understand why you hid today... You are a weak, pathetic, small-minded individual."
In the lead-up to the bill signing, DeSantis had reaffirmed his support for Constitutional Carry and his intention to sign such a bill if it came across his desk. DeSantis' press secretary, Brian Griffin, also stated that "the Governor strongly supports the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms."
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The bill removes the need for a permit, training, and background checks
On April 4, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill (HB) 543, allowing Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit. The bill, which goes into effect on July 1, 2023, makes Florida the 26th state to enact "Constitutional Carry" legislation.
Proponents of the bill, including Republican Sen. Jay Collins, who sponsored the bill, argue that it strengthens Floridians' Second Amendment rights and ensures that law-abiding citizens can defend themselves and their families. They suggest that individuals will still seek permits to carry concealed weapons in states with reciprocal agreements and to facilitate gun purchases. Additionally, they highlight the importance of personal protection, especially in the wake of recent tragic school shootings.
However, critics argue that the bill undermines critical gun safety laws and promotes the gun lobby's agenda of increasing gun accessibility. They emphasize the importance of live-fire training to ensure proper and safe handling of weapons. The removal of permitting, training, and background check requirements raises concerns about public safety and the potential for irresponsible or dangerous individuals to carry concealed weapons. This includes individuals with a history of violent crimes, weapons offenses, or arrests for violent acts, who may now be legally allowed to carry hidden guns in public spaces.
The passage of this bill reflects the ongoing debate and conflicting perspectives surrounding gun control and public safety in the United States. While supporters of the bill emphasize the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, critics argue that weakening gun safety laws can have detrimental consequences and contribute to an increase in gun violence.
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The bill strengthens Floridians' Second Amendment rights
On April 4, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill (HB) 543, which allows Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit. The bill, dubbed "Constitutional Carry," strengthens Floridians' Second Amendment rights by removing the requirement for a permit, training, and background checks to carry a concealed weapon in public. This means that anyone in Florida who can legally own a gun will be able to carry one without a permit, making it the 26th state to enact such legislation.
The signing of the bill was not without controversy. DeSantis signed the bill in a private ceremony, and critics argued that the bill could make it easier for criminals to carry guns and that it was a sham law that only benefited DeSantis' presidential ambitions. The White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, also criticized the timing of the bill's signing, noting that it came just one week after a tragic school shooting in Nashville.
Supporters of the bill, including Republican Sen. Jay Collins, who sponsored the bill, argued that the government should not get in the way of law-abiding Americans who want to defend themselves and their families. They believe that the requirements for a license and a $97 fee amounted to asking for a "government permission slip" to exercise a constitutional right. A license is still available for those who need it for travel to states with reciprocity agreements.
The new law will go into effect on July 1, 2023. This bill signing is in line with DeSantis' previous support for constitutional carry and his commitment to signing such legislation if it came to his desk. It also reverses some of the gun restrictions put in place by former Governor Rick Scott after the Parkland school shooting in 2018.
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DeSantis' gun law for 'permitless carry' is deemed unconstitutional
On April 3, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that eliminates licensing requirements to carry a concealed firearm in most public places. The bill, known as "Constitutional Carry" or "permitless carry," allows anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry one without a permit. This means that training and background checks will not be required to carry concealed guns in public.
While supporters of the bill argue that it strengthens Floridians' Second Amendment rights, critics have deemed the law unconstitutional. Boynton Beach lawyer and columnist Frank Cerabino are among those who believe the law violates the U.S. Constitution. The bill has also faced criticism from gun safety advocacy groups, who argue that allowing people to carry concealed guns in public without training and background checks will make the public less safe.
The signing of the bill was not without controversy. DeSantis signed the bill in a private ceremony, and some have accused him of hiding and prioritizing his presidential ambitions over the safety of Floridians. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called out the timing of the bill's signing, which came just a week after a tragic school shooting in Nashville.
The law will take effect on July 1, 2023, making Florida the 26th state to enact Constitutional Carry legislation. However, it is important to note that the bill does not allow for the unrestricted carrying of long guns, knives, or other weapons, and it does not apply to certain sensitive locations, such as where lawmakers meet. Despite the criticism and concerns, supporters of the bill, including the National Rifle Association, praise it as a victory for Second Amendment rights and self-defense.
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The bill comes five years after gun restrictions were put in place
On April 4, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill (HB) 543, which allows Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit. The bill, also known as "Constitutional Carry," takes effect on July 1, 2023, and Florida becomes the 26th state to enact such legislation.
The new law, signed by Governor DeSantis, has sparked controversy. Critics argue that it is unconstitutional and that it undermines efforts to prevent gun violence. They contend that the removal of training and background check requirements for carrying concealed weapons poses a threat to public safety. The bill's supporters, however, assert that it upholds the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to carry guns for self-defense. They argue that individuals will still seek permits to carry concealed weapons in states with reciprocal agreements and to facilitate gun purchases.
The signing of the bill has been largely along political lines, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats criticizing it. The White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, denounced the bill, stating that it was “shameful” for Governor DeSantis to sign it into law so soon after the Nashville school shooting. The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Jay Collins, defended it, asserting that the government should not obstruct law-abiding Americans' right to self-defense.
The debate surrounding gun control in the United States is long-standing and contentious, with a complex interplay between federal, state, and local laws. While some states have stricter gun control measures, others have more lenient regulations or even encourage gun ownership and use. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms, is often at the center of these discussions, with varying interpretations and court rulings influencing the legislative landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Constitutional Carry bill, also known as House Bill 543, into law on April 4, 2023.
The bill allows eligible Floridians to carry a concealed weapon without a government-issued permit. This means that training and background checks are not required to carry a concealed gun in public.
The bill has been controversial, with critics arguing that it is unconstitutional and that it could make it easier for criminals to carry guns. Supporters of the bill argue that the previous requirements amounted to asking for "government permission" to exercise a constitutional right.
