First modification:
With the signing of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, as of July 1, Florida becomes the twenty-sixth state in the United States to enact such legislation. The White House criticized the legislation, as this legislative victory gives the governor a boost to prepare for his presidential campaign, where he hopes to compete with former President Donald Trump for the presidential nomination in the 2024 elections.
With 27 votes in favor and 13 against, the Florida Senate, with a Republican majority, approved that its citizens can carry firearms without the need for a state permitwhich translates into there will be no need for prior training or one Background Check to carry concealed weapons in public space.
The signing was given in a private ceremony at DeSantis’ office and when he made it public, his first comment was: “Carrying arms is a constitutional matter that is on the books.”
The HB 543 law, approved by the Senate on March 30, completely changes the scenario for Floridians, who could already buy without the need for legal permits, but who needed state approval to carry them in public. LThe rule will enter into force on July 1.
A law divided along political lines
While for the defenders of the project, the law serves to solve problems of “public security” interest, its opponents condemn it, giving as an example the multiple shootings in student institutions and shopping centers that have claimed the lives of dozens of adults and minors, especially migrants and Afro-Americans.
“I’m angry. I’m going to go after him across the state, as well as possibly across the country, because Ron DeSantis today put his signature on a bill that guarantees there will be more Jaimes,” Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime, told reporters. 14 years old, was murdered in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parklands.
“Signing the bill behind closed doors makes DeSantis a coward,” Guttenberg added.
The Republicans, for their part, assured that citizens who support the law have “the right to bear arms and protect themselves.” They explain that the law signed this Monday, April 3, is an advance for the lifestyle of Americans, who will now be able to “carry concealed weapons in states with reciprocal agreements and buy weapons without the need for a waiting period.”
In Florida, according to data released by the television channel NBC6almost three million people have a concealed weapons permit.
However, the US Democratic National Committee (DNC) accused DeSantis of acting “shoulder to shoulder” with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and added that his actions are only “making it easier for criminals to carry weapons.”
“DeSantis knows that this legislation could be dangerous for Florida families and that is why he signed this bill without his usual fanfare,” said DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison. “Make no mistake, DeSantis’ brazen pursuit of the MAGA 2024 base has shown the lengths he is willing to go to further his national ambitions, even if it means ignoring the pleas of some law enforcement officials and putting the gun lobbying on Floridians,” Harrison added.
“Carrying arms is a constitutional right”
The Second Amendment to the US Constitution gives Americans the right to keep and bear arms. Based on this premise, in April 2022 DeSantis promised that he would sign a law that would give citizens full permission to carry firearms without a permit. At that time he spoke of the concept of “constitutional bearing” and promoted his conservative agenda as a politician.
True to his promise, DeSantis’ law comes five years after then-Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill creating gun restrictions after 17 students and teachers were killed in Parklands.
And it also comes a week after six people were killed in a shooting at a school in Nashville, Tennessee.
White House: “It’s a shame”
For the White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, the Florida governor’s law “goes against common sense”, taking into account that it is a state that “has already paid a very high price” for armed violence.
It is shameful that so soon after another tragic school shooting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a permitless concealed carry bill behind closed doors, which eliminates the need to get a license to carry a concealed weapon.
—Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) April 3, 2023
Jean-Pierre insisted on the need to ban the sale of assault rifles, remove the immunity of gun manufacturers and establish background checks for those who buy these types of weapons.
“President Biden has been very clear: too many lives are being torn apart by gun violence,” Jean-Pierre exclaimed in a statement.
With Reuters, EFE and AP
