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Politics

Greg Steube Fires Up Open Carry Bill for 2017 Session

December 12, 2016 - 11:30am
Greg Steube
Greg Steube

A proposal to allow Florida's concealed weapons permit holders to carry their firearms openly and eliminate some "gun-free zones" will make another appearance during the 2017 legislative session. 

The legislation, SB 140, is sponsored by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, who introduced the measure last year when he was a state representative. 

If passed, the bill would allow Florida's 1.7 million concealed carry permit holders to openly carry their firearms. The more sweeping part of the measure, however, would eliminate gun-free zones in places like secondary schools, local centers and government meeting areas. 

The bill would not allow CCW permit holders to carry their firearms on college or athletic events and restrictions would still exist on carrying guns to restaurants and bars.  Any permit holder in violation of the restrictions in the bill would face a misdemeanor charge. 

Last year, former state Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced the bill in the House. The proposal sailed through that chamber, but faced opposition in the Senate

Former Sen. Miguel Díaz de la Portilla was at the center of the failure of many pro-gun bills last year, since he chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee where many of the bills, including open carry, breathed their last breaths. 

This year, Diaz de la Portilla isn't a senator and Steube chairs that committee, setting up a friendlier environment for the measure to make its way through.

The bill showed an evident division among law enforcement officers in Florida, with Florida Police Chiefs Association supporting the measure last year, while the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) overwhelmingly opposed the legislation.  

The National Rifle Association flexed its muscles on the open carry bill, railing against the FSA at the time. 

NRA lobbyist and former president Marion Hammer harshly criticized the FSA for its claims open carry was ineffective. 

"Opponents have presented no evidence that open carry isn’t working in any state and no evidence of problems in any state," she wrote at the time. "Simply because different states have variations in their laws does not in any way alter the fact that open-carry is working."

FSA spokesperson Nanette Schimpf told Sunshine State News the group was currently reviewing the legislation.

Current Florida law does not allow licensed permit holders to openly carry. 

Florida is just one of five states which does not allow the lawful open carry of firearms. If Steube's legislation passes, Florida would become the 46th state legalizing open carry. 

 

 

Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.

 
READ MORE FROM SUNSHINE STATE NEWS
 

Comments

We are law abiding citizens,we do not intimidate unless beeing assaulted,we believe in protecting our family and the constitution.

I believe. This law would help protect citizens against Rape, Burglary,Murder, and other crimes to ward off Street Punks. However, One must consider it is not fir People who have a An issue controlling when to and not to exercise. Tho action especially if the person with The permit is not Mentally fit. It is for protection only not to end a confrontation

WHAT IF YOU EXPOSE A GUN BY MISTAKE IF YOUR SHIRT COME HIGHER IF YOU BEND DOWN TO PICK UP YOUR KEYS THAT YOU DROPED....IF THE LAW IS OPEN CARRY THAT NOT A BIG DEAL BUT CONCEAL CARRY ONLY AND A COP SEE YOU WHEN BEND OVER YOU CAN GO TO JAIL,JAIL,JAIL IF THE POLICE WANT TO BE A JERK....HE CAN SAY YOU BRANISH A WEAPON AND TELL YOUR SIDE TO JUDGE....EVEN IF THE CHARGES ARE DISMIS...YOU WENT JAIL SPENT$$$$$$

This needs to be modified....get rid of the permit portion. You shouldn't have to pay a fee to the state to have a right!

Good, because IWB ( Inside the Waist Band) holsters are a pain in the...well, inside the waistband. Personally I won't be running around advertising, but flipping the belt clip and wearing the holster outside my pants will be nice. I still would wear a shirt over it....

Totally agree Mike

Totally agree Mike

You can already do exactly what you sai with the OWB....I do it daily.

Thank you Senator Steube, this is a great bill and your opponents are so ignorant. Hopefully their opposition to the right to bear arms will not prevail again.

"opposition to the right to bear arms "..... ONE Miami RINO in Bloomberg's pocket....Former Sen. Miguel Díaz de la Portilla refused to bring it up in his committee because he knew it would pass, and then Pass the full Senate, as it had passed in the House.... So, good ridden's Miguel....

Limited Open Carry is lawful in Florida already. If you're in progress, en route to or returning from fishing, hunting or camping, you can open carry. All you need to do is keep a tackle box of artificial lures and a fishing pole in your vehicle at all times. If questioned by police, have a valid fishing license to show. The law doesn't stipulate that officers can track your fishing or hunting trip an an investigation, however. But some former officers from liberal states relocating to Florida still cannot stand CCW or OC privileges that states like Florida & Georgia give. Everybody needs to go fishing!!! Remember, artificial bait, because old, dead shrimp or worms get ridiculously stinky. Like liberals.

I fully support SB140. Thank you, Greg Steube.

Thank you for trying again, I support SB140,hope this time we can get open carry.

I really hope this passes. I personally would not open carry but would love to not have to worry about someone calling the police because my shirt exposes a firearm for a brief second by accident even though I am a conceal carry permit holder. There are nearly 2 million permit holders in the state of Florida which is roughly 10% of the state population. If you see 10 people in public 1 of them is probably armed. That guy in the store in line behind.. yeah probably already has a firearm on him but guess what you both bought your items and went home without incident. Having a firearm does not make you a criminal or mentally unstable.. when are we going to learn this.

Setting the stage for killing civilians on an industrial scale...

Setting the stage for world destruction since 1776.

Robert Warner do you have prof of that ? Can you show data that proves that idiotic statement?

So, openly carrying leads to killing civilians? CCW holders ARE civilians. What a fool. Most of us will never openly carry. It's just a legal protection against lib idiots like you who will call the police when my shirt opens and you see my firearm. By the way, 45 states permit open carry. Nearly 2,000,000 of us carry concealed weapons every day. You've probably sat next to us while having dinner, or at the movies. Like we said to Hillary, It's coming, get over it.

Sorry, but the problem is not going away. Conceal them if you want. Open carry is not tacit intimidation, it is a direct and intentional effort to intimidate anyone and everyone you come in contact with. See "High Noon". By the way do you have a human name - just for accountability purposes. And who is the "we" you casually mention?

If you perceive open carry as intentional intimidation, two things come immediately to mind - 1) you might need intimidating from time to time, and 2) your perception is your own bogeyman. Deal with it.

Actually agree with you, Robert! It would be nice to know, even reassured, that my grand-daughters will attend college without having to worry where the next 'OK Corral' will be! GO TRUMP!! (NOT the "we")

The more guns that we have in this country the more violent confrontations of all types become. A majority of people are wanting more gun control not less. I do not like seeing guns in the grocery store or anywhere else. It puts everyone on edge as you do not know what people are going to do. Perhaps having concealed weapons is worse but at least you are not constantly on edge. We do not need to do this.

Guessing you missed the memo where CWP holders are more lawful they even LEOs.

Sorry to burst your bubble, however studies completed by agencies such as the FBI have found that crime rates have a direct correlation to the possession of firearms by civilians. It has shown that the more armed citizens their are in a particular area, there generally is a lower presence of violent crimes in that area.

Open carry for licenced concealed holders make perfect sense. No offense if you and I are in the the same store. I have a firearm. You just do not see it. Your fears based on sight are rediculous. Unless you physically attack me personally with intent to end my like your safety is not in question. How you act determines how weapon holders act. We are obey the law. We carry for personal preservation of life. We do not carry to commit crime. The lawless do that, the lawless do not adhere to gun laws period!

Comments are now closed.

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