FL Permitless Concealed Gun Law Passes State Senate

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida legislature passed a bill Thursday that allows Florida gun owners to carry concealed loaded weapons without a license, according to an NBC News report. The bill now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has indicated he will sign it.

The bill dubbed "constitutional carry" by proponents allows Florida gun owners to carry a concealed weapon without getting a permit, which requires completing a gun safety course, providing fingerprints, undergoing an additional background check, and paying a permit fee.

The legislation passed the Florida House of Representatives in a 76-32 vote last week.

Florida law currently allows residents to buy and own a gun without a permit, but owners must have a concealed weapons permit to carry the gun in public.

Despite attempts by Republican lawmakers, the bill does not allow gun owners to openly carry their firearms in public, according to a report by The Tampa Bay Times.

Last year, DeSantis signaled his support for the bill and expected state lawmakers to pass the permitless carry law during the 2023 legislative session.

"Basically, this was something that I've always supported," DeSantis said during a 2022 news conference in Lee County. "The last two years, it was not necessarily a priority for the legislative leadership. But we've been talking about it, and (House Speaker Paul Renner's) pledged publicly that's moving forward, and it'll be something that will be done in the regular session."

About half of U.S. states allow people to carry a gun without a permit, a movement that's grown popular among conservative states, according to The Associated Press.

Thursday's vote comes three days after a shooter opened fire at a Nashville school, killing six people, including three nine-year-old children.