Two pro-gun bills advancing in Florida
The bills restore the right and responsibility of churches, synagogues and other religious institutions to make their own decisions about when and who can or cannot carry firearms on church property.
This just in from NRA:
ALERT! UPDATE on CHURCH CARRY Legislation
DATE:  March 11, 2021
TO:Â Â Â USF & NRA Members and FriendsÂ
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
       USF Executive Director
       NRA Past President
IN RAPID SUCCESSION,  SB-498 by Senator Joe Gruters (R)and HB-259 by Reps. Jayer Williamson (R) & Cord Byrd (R) were both heard in their respective committees. T
The Senate bill was heard in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday 3/9/21 and the House bill was heard in the House Education & Employment Committee on Wednesday 3/10/21.
These bills REMOVE the ban on CW license holders carrying firearms for defensive purposes in churches, synagogues and other religious institutions. If the companion bills pass license holders will be able to carry in religious institutions just like they do when they go shopping or into any other private property -- UNLESS firearms are prohibited on the property by the property owner or church.
The bill RESTORES the right and responsibility of churches, synagogues and other religious institutions to make their own decisions about when and who can or cannot carry firearms on church property.
Both bills were amended to REMOVE a requirement to "post" policies. Â Â
In the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on 3/9/21 -- SB-498 PASSED by a vote of 5-3.  Prior to passage, Sen. Jason Pizzo (D) tried to effectively hijack and reverse the intent of the bill by submitting two unfriendly amendments. Both amendments were defeated.Â
Voting FOR SB-498
Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)Â
Sen. Jeff Brandes (R)
Sen. Jim Boyd (R)
Sen. George Gainer (R)
Sen. Keith Perry (R)
Voting AGAINST SB-498
Sen. Jason Pizzo (D)
Sen. Bobby Powell (D)
Sen. Annette Taddeo
In the House Education & Employment Committee on 3/10/21 -- HB-259PASSED by a vote of 16-5.
Voting FOR HB-259
Rep. Vance Aloupis (R)
Rep. Alex Andrade (R)
Rep. Melony Bell (R)
Rep. David Borrero (R)
Rep. James Bush III (D)
Rep. Randy Fine (R)
Rep. Joe Harding (R)
Rep. Fred Hawkins (R)
Rep. Chip LaMarca (R)
Rep. Chris Latvala (R)
Rep. Patt Maney (R)
Rep. Amber Mariano (R)
Rep. Stan McClain (R)
Rep. Daisy Morales (D)
Rep. Dana Lee Trabulsy (R)
Rep. Kaylee Tuck (R)
Voting AGAINST HB-259
Rep. Kristen Arrington (D)
Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D)
Rep. Tray McCurdy (D)
Rep. Susan Valdes (D)
Rep. Patricia Williams (D)
Each bill has one more committee stop before being eligible to go to the floor.
Is a church not private property? How on earth did government get involved with telling private property owners you can’t (fill in the blank) is it no difference if they tell you in your house your friends visiting can’t bring a gun into your house. A bill should not be needed, what should happen is removing the section from the bill that prohibits church carry in the first place. To many times a bill is passed to undo a bill complicating things.
Nice but a diversion. Where is she on the Second Amendment Sanctuary issue?