The 2016 legislative session is gearing up to be the year of gun bills, with a new bill proposing heightened requirements for concealed carry permit applicants being introduced this week.
A new proposal requiring concealed carry permit holders to carry their concealed weapons permits and state they're carrying a concealed weapon if approached by a first responder is being introduced in time for the 2016 legislative session.
HB 935, sponsored by Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, D-Deerfield Beach, would make it mandatory for licensed concealed carry permit holders to keep their licenses on hand along with valid identification when possessing a firearm.
Under the proposal, the licensee must state he or she is in possession of a concealed weapon or firearm and display both the license and relevant identification when approached by a first responder.
Any CCW permit holder failing to comply under the legislation wild be fined $1,000.
Florida concealed carry permit holders must demonstrate competency with a firearm before being granted a permit, which requires completing safety training courses.
The legislation would also require concealed carry permit holders to complete a minimum of six hours of certified firearm training and six hours of gun safety education, which is currently not part of the concealed weapons application process. No specific time frame for the training courses is dictated in current law.
The legislation would revoke permit holders’ licenses if they violated the law a second time and failed to show proper identification for their permits.
According to a press release, the legislation aims to protect Floridians’ Second Amendment rights while “enhancing the responsibilities of citizens who exercise that right using concealed weapons permits.”
“This bill would provide a safety measure for the permit hole licensee as well as the law enforcement officer,” said Clarke-Reed. “This respects our citizens’ constitutional rights and makes all of us more accountable.”
Clarke-Reed’s proposal is just one of several gun bills making their way to the Florida Legislature this year.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Shalimar and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, filed legislation which would allow concealed carry permit holders to openly carry their firearms. If passed, Florida would join 45 other states allowing open carry.
Another bill, sponsored by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, and Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, would allow concealed carry permit holders 21 and up to carry firearms on college campuses.
Both the open carry and campus carry bills have already gathered intense support and criticism from both gun rights and gun safety groups alike.
The regular legislative session begins January 12.
