Adam Putnam Goes to Bat for Open Carry, Campus Carry

Commissioner of Agriculture and Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam told a crowd Tuesday he believes concealed weapons permit holders should be allowed to carry their firearms on college campuses. 

Speaking before a group at the Florida National Guard Armory in Tallahassee, Putnam discussed Florida’s concealed weapons permit licensing program and Florida’s gun laws, including the possibility of legalizing open carry and promoting campus carry in the Sunshine State.

Putnam seemed hopeful the opportunity would open up for Florida to legalize open carry, a consistent hot button issue fueled by intense debate between gun rights activists and gun control advocates. 

“There is absolutely a pathway for Florida to get to a form of open carry,” Putnam said.

Open carry was legal in Florida up until 1987, the same year the state legalized concealed carry, but state legislators haven't been successful in their attempts to resurrect the idea over the last 30 years. 

State Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, proposed a bill earlier this year to allow CCW permit holders to openly carry their firearms, but the bill died in committee, never receiving the hearing it needed for a full vote to become law. 

Putnam, a longtime Florida politician, said he supported changing the state’s gun-free zones to allow for “responsible” permit holders to carry their firearms in places like college campuses where guns are prohibited.

“I think that gun-free zones where the victims have no opportunity to defend themselves ought to be modified in a responsible way so people can exercise their Second Amendment rights to protect themselves,” Putnam said.

The two-time Agriculture Commissioner pointed to college students who had served in the Armed Forces as examples of trustworthy gun holders since they have expansive training in firearms and firearm safety. 

“Think of the number of students who are also in the Guard,” Putnam said. “Think of the number of students who have done their time in Afghanistan or Iraq. Think of the number of students who have had extraordinary amounts of firearms training, who are highly qualified, highly competent and safe. There is absolutely a way for people to exercise their Second Amendment rights in a responsible way.”

Firearms, even for concealed weapons permit holders, are currently not allowed on Florida’s college campuses, but Republicans and pro-gun groups have pushed measures to legalize campus carry for years, without success. 

Still, lawmakers push forward, and Steube has vowed to bring back the measures for consideration next year. 

“I will absolutely bring the [bills] up again next year,” Steube told Sunshine State News last week.
 
Earlier in the conference, Putnam announced the state had expedited 82,000 CCW permit applications for military servicemen and veterans. The state also eliminated fees on concealed weapons permits statewide.  
 
Over 1.8 Floridians currently carry concealed weapons permits. 

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