'Conceal Carry' Gun Rights Extended to Under-21s in Military

Legislation granting concealed weapons permits to military personnel under age 21 is awaiting Gov. Rick Scott's signature.

Florida Carry, which authored House Bill 463, said, "Those who defend our country overseas should be able to defend themselves and their families at home. There have been too many incidences of violence against our troops who have just returned from overseas deployments and found themselves defenseless at home."

Sean Caranna, president of the gun group, said the legislation "will ensure that our current troops and honorably discharged veterans can obtain a license to carry, regardless of age or duty station. The bill will also require that fingerprint cards be accepted from military police and provost so that service members stationed overseas can complete their applications."

Caranna estimates that more than 8,000 adult service members under the age of 21 live in Florida.

"Countless more resident veterans and annual military visitors ... will have their right to bear arms advanced by these bills," Caranna said.

Reps. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, and Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, sponsored HB 463, and Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, carried the companion bill, SB 998, in the Senate. Both bills passed unanimously.