Florida's Open Carry Proposal Dies In Senate

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida concealed weapons license holders who were hoping to be able to carry out in the open won’t get that opportunity this year, at least.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, announced Tuesday that he has no intention of granting a hearing on a bill that would make it legal for permit holders to openly carry handguns. That move effectively kills the bill, which easily cleared the House with 80 votes in favor earlier this month.

“Open carry is not going to happen; it’s done,” Diaz de la Portilla was quoted by the Tampa Bay Times as saying.

Diaz de la Portilla has also refused to grant hearings on bills that would have made it legal to carry concealed weapons on public college and university campuses and within certain areas of airports.

See Also:

• Florida’s Controversial Gun Bills Clear House
• Bill To Allow Guns On College Campuses Moves Forward
• Tampa Bay Split On Open Carry Proposal
• Concealed Weapons Permits: Florida Tops 1.4 Million

“Moms and their families in Florida and across the country are thankful that Senator Diaz de la Portilla took a courageous stand against the gun lobby and in defense of public safety,” Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director of MomsRising.org, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “As Florida is a major family tourist destination, with miles of unspoiled beaches and incredible attractions, Diaz de La Portilla made the right decision for the state in acknowledging that families simply do not want to vacation where people are openly carrying deadly weapons in front of their children.”

The League of Women Voters of Florida also came out in support of Diaz de la Portilla’s decision.

“Open carry is dead,” the group posted on its Facebook page Wednesday. “Thank you, Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla!”

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