Rick Scott Applauded for Signing Military Gun Law

State Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, applauded Gov. Rick Scott for signing a law expanding access to concealed weapons permits to Florida military service members and honorably discharged veterans.

Kreegel, who authored House Bill 463, said, We have successfully enhanced the Second Amendment rights of our fighting men and women. We entrust them with firearms to defend our nation, that trust should extend to allowing them to carry concealed weapons in civilian life.

The legislation allows military service members and honorably discharged veterans who are not Florida residents and hold a concealed weapons license from other reciprocating states to have the same rights as Florida's concealed-weapons license holders.

The bill requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to accept background check fingerprints for any military concealed weapons license applicants which have been prepared by military law enforcement officials.

To allow American soliders to use weapons to protect our freedoms but prohibit them from enjoying their constitutional rights at home is a disservice to their service, said Kreegel, who is running for the the Republican nomination for Congress in the 19th District.