While Florida is sometimes derisively referred to as the “Gunshine State,” make no mistake, some lawmakers in the state legislature are vehemently anti-gun. A bevy of both pro-gun and anti-gun bills introduced in the legislature so far this fall proves that point quite well.
On one end of the spectrum, some Democratic lawmakers want to ban so-called “assault weapons” and firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Pro-gun lawmakers are against both proposals.
On the other side, some Republican lawmakers want to lower the age for Floridians to purchase firearms from 21 to 18 for all types of guns. Gun-ban advocates, of course, vehemently opposed that idea.
Senate Bill 345 is the measure that would restrict common semi-automatic firearms and the standard magazines sold with them. Per the bill: “ An ‘Assault weapon’ means any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic, or burst fire at the option of the user or any of the following semiautomatic firearms.” The measure then listed all ARs, all AKs, and hundreds of other firearms, such as the Ruger Mini-14, by name and model.
Another anti-gun measure, House Bill 321, would prohibit law-abiding Floridians from carrying a firearm in several locations, including government buildings, police stations, courthouses, schools and some other sites. Of course, criminals, who don’t follow gun laws, will still be armed in such places.
SB 256, another anti-gun measure, would require guns in vehicles or boats to be stored locked and out of sight. And, SB 180 would expand criminal liability if minors access guns, and would require gun manufacturers to include safety warnings and demonstrate safe gun locks for buyers
These measures come on the heels of a September ruling by a state appeals court striking down Florida’s law against open carry. Then, in October, a Broward County circuit judge ruled that the state law barring 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds from carrying concealed weapons violates the Second Amendment.
Logan Edge, executive director at the Florida Gun Rights Association, has said he wants lawmakers to repeal all of the measures passed after the Parkland murder, which sparked a flurry of anti-gun measures and laws.
“I would assume most people that buy firearms are law-abiding citizens,” Edge told wusf.org. “Hundreds, millions, of people in America own firearms legally, and we are not the problem when it comes to violence, it’s criminals. I don’t really see the point of, ‘Oh, if somebody’s carrying an AR-15 on their shoulder, oh, they’re a criminal.’”
Fortunately for Florida’s lawful gun owners, anti-gun lawmakers have a tough row to hoe in trying to get more gun control passed. None of the Democratic-sponsored anti-gun measures introduced in recent weeks has been scheduled for a committee hearing by the Republican leadership. The measure that would lower the purchase age, however, is already on a committee agenda to be heard soon.