Concealed Weapon Permit Requests Likely to Spike: Putnam Says

TALLAHASSEE, FL — President Barack Obama’s Tuesday announcement of his plans to take executive action to tighten gun restrictions across the country has Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Adam H. Putnam bracing for an uptick in concealed weapons permits.

The Republican has also condemned what he sees as an “overreaching executive action,” a statement from Putnam’s office said.

“Our right to bear arms is enshrined in our U.S. Constitution, yet President Obama has again circumvented Congress with this executive action, infringing on law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” Putnam said in the statement. “In Florida, where our population has soared to 20 million and we have 1.4 million concealed weapon licenses, our crime rate is at a 44-year-low.”

See Also:

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• Concealed Weapons Permits: Florida Tops 1.4 Million

Putnam said his office is anticipating “a surge in the number of applications for concealed weapons licenses.” He assures eligible applicants his staff is preparing to meet the demand.

The state offers 27 locations at which residents may apply for or renew concealed weapons licenses.

Obama outlined a plan Tuesday morning that is designed to increase the number of gun buyers who must undergo criminal background checks. He also plans to hire more people to conduct those checks, wants more gun research performed and would like to see a higher number of domestic violence prosecutions across the country, The New York Times reported.

Obama’s actions come following the failure of Congress to enact tighter gun control measures.

To find out more about Florida concealed weapons licenses, visit the department of agriculture online.

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