BREAKING: Florida becomes the 26th state to allow permitless carry
BREAKING: Florida becomes the 26th state to allow permitless carry
A majority of the country now allows permitless carry.
by Lee Williams
More than half the country now allows the concealed carry of firearms without the need for a permission slip from the government.
Florida became the 26th state — the majority state — Monday morning when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed CS/HB 543 at 8:15 a.m.
The new law takes effect July 1.
“It’s a huge step forward for Florida and a monumental step forward for the country,” said Art Thomm, state director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.
Thomm replaced Florida’s longtime NRA lobbyist, Marion Hammer, in June. In just months, he got an unlicensed concealed-carry bill through both chambers and onto DeSantis’ desk.
The new law allows law-abiding Floridians to carry concealed handguns without seeking a Concealed Weapon or Firearm License, or CWFL, from the government. However, the state’s successful CWFL program will remain in effect. Today, more than 2.4 million Floridians have a CWFL.
The new law does not include a training requirement, which was a major concern for its critics. But neither does it change who is eligible to either purchase or carry a firearm. Its proponents say it “levels the playing field” for law abiding Floridians.
CS/HB 54 does not allow for the open carry of arms, which is why some said the legislation is not “constitutional carry” and did not go far enough.
The law was supported by NRA, GOA, NAGR and Florida Carry, Inc., pro-gun groups which have all promised to seek open carry legislation.
Lee Williams is a board member of Florida Carry, Inc.
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We still have to wait until July 1st to exercise, once again, SOME of our constitutionally recognized, God given rights? That's just weird. At least it's a step in the right direction.
"Thomm replaced Florida’s longtime NRA lobbyist, Marion Hammer, in June. In just months, he got an unlicensed concealed-carry bill through both chambers and onto DeSantis’ desk."
I assume and sort of recall that was June of 2022 when Marion Hammer retired from the Unified Sportsmen of Florida.
But WHEN and in WHICH "In two months" did this Thomm character suddenly get the unlicensed-carry bill on DeSantis' desk?
It's my understanding that that bill could have passed at almost any time from 2020 to 2022 had it not been for the scumbag RINO Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, who killed it every time.
And what was the position of the Unified Sportsmen of Florida (USF) in all this unlicensed concealed-carry effort?
I'm not sure, but I've been a paying member of the USF ever since it began and I've received its communications religiously ever since. It's easily possible I could have missed it, but I don't recall Marion Hammer or the USF ever stating a position on unlicensed conceal carry -- and certainly not in opposition to it.
But that IS possible if a proposal included open carry. MANY reasonable gun owners are DEAD SET against open carry and I strongly suspect more than just a few are against unlicensed carry. Personally, I'm all for either.
However, one thing is damned certain: Marion P. Hammer, the first female NRA president (1995-98) and president of the USF since its inception in 1975, when SHE founded it, is responsible for virtually EVERY POSITIVE thing that EVER happened legislatively for Florida gun owners, the major two of which among MANY are:
1. Florida's preemption law, which prevents cities and counties from setting up their OWN gun control traps for unsuspecting gun owners passing through and out.
2. Model concealed-carry legislation in 1987 that's been adopted all over the nation, purging corrupt police chiefs, sheriffs and politicians from the process.
Marion P. Hammer is and always will be Florida's Goddess of Guns. In her incredibly long career of advocating for gun owners -- which began decades ago in her rebellion against the unconstitutional Gun Control Act of 1968 -- Marion Hammer has done more single-handedly for gun owners than ANYONE on the planet.
She deserves continuing recognition. Compared to her, this Thomm guy is just another NRA lackey.
And don't get me started on the do-nothing National Rifle Association of America, still fast in the toxic grip of the corrupt Wayne LaPierre.
The NRA's problem with LaPierre is the same as the nation's problem with no term limits in the Congress. People are basically corrupt or at least corruptible. The longer they're allowed to hang around the goody box the sooner they'll be poking their dirty little paws deep into it.
I just GRUDGINGLY bought into another five years on the hope and prayer that LaPierre will drop dead of something or NRA members will grow spines and have the guts to toss his sorry ass OUT forever.
Show me where I'm wrong on any of all that, Lee.