HIALEAH, Fla. ā Florida state lawmakers are proposing a new bill that would make carrying a gun in the state much easier.
If the bill passes, it would no longer be required to have a permit in order to carry a loaded firearm.
Gun safety advocated are calling the bill reckless.
Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, called it, āremoving the permission slip.ā
āThe permit and all aspects of that permit would go away,ā he said.
Practically speaking, that would mean no more required background checks, fingerprinting or any sort of training.
āI donāt think the permit in order to conceal carry in this state is onerous to begin with, but at least itās something,ā said state Rep. Dan Daley, a Democrat from Coral Springs. āSo every Joe Schmo doesnāt carry one on their hip.ā
Added state Rep Christine Hunschofsky, a Democrat from Parkland, āRemoving training to make you a competent firearm carrier doesnāt sound like a great public safety measure to me. This alone is a step in the wrong direction.ā
Local 10 Newsā Glenna Milberg took the issue to a veteran weapons instructor.
Auggie Mejia likened an untrained gun owner to an unlicensed driver.
āI think everyone should be training in firearms,ā he said.
He explained why live firing with an instructor is currently part of required training for a gun permit.
āYou must know, you must understand, safety is critical and understand the components that go with owning a firearm,ā he said.
The bill would allow anyone 21 or older to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, except for those already outlawed, like felons for instance.
Instruction would become optional.
āAnybody thatās a gun owner and uses guns knows that safety comes first,ā said Renner.
Read the bill by clicking here.