Bill could ease open-carry penalties

The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee filed a bill Tuesday that would reduce penalties for people who have concealed-weapons licenses and openly carry guns.
The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee filed a bill Tuesday that would reduce penalties for people who have concealed-weapons licenses and openly carry guns.
Following the Tampa Bay Times story questioning Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam‘s past visibility on gun rights issues, Democratic gubernatorial
Fifty legislators received top marks from Americans for Prosperity-Florida, the largest number of A+ legislators since the organization began issuing
Agriculture Commissioner and Republican candidate for governor Adam Putnam Tuesday said “there is absolutely a pathway” to bring back open carry
With Florida’s Legislative Session only days away, one of the hottest issues to face lawmakers this year is Open Carry. Two bills (SB 300/HB 163) filed by the Republican father-son tag team of State Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach, would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry a gun “any place that a person has the right to be, subject only to exceptionally and narrowly tailored restrictions that employ the least possible restriction on the right” to bear…
Following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history earlier this week in Las Vegas, two Florida lawmakers announced legislation designed
Tropical Depression 16 is expected to intensify into a tropical storm within 24 hours while traveling north into the Gulf of Mexico.
Gov. Rick Scott Monday has ordered flags at half-staff “in honor and remembrance of the victims of the act of
Pompano Beach Democratic Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke Reed filed a bill Friday that would change some of the rules on concealed weapons permits in Florida. HB 935 would require concealed weapons permit holders to tell first responders they have a concealed weapon and present their license and identification. Current law doesn’t require permit holders to tell police they are carrying a weapon. The bill would also increase the fine for not carrying the license from $25 to $1,000. “This bill would provide a safety measure…
Following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history earlier this week in Las Vegas, two Florida lawmakers announced legislation designed
Don’t politicize tragedy. That’s on page 1 in the standard response manual for how gun rights supporters respond to a
The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee filed a bill Tuesday that would reduce penalties for people who have concealed-weapons
A House panel Tuesday morning advanced a bill to allow concealed weapons licensees to carry their guns openly in Florida. Or as sponsor state Rep. Matt Gaetz put it, restore a right “granted not by government, but by God.” Despite an admonishment from Chairman Carlos Trujillo to keep questions to the text of the bill itself and avoid “philosophical” discussion, the Federalist Papers, constitutional jurisprudence, and the very notion of civilization all shot through an hour-long debate on the measure, which saw testimony from…
Former House Speaker Will Weatherford is backing Ed Hooper for the state senate seat being vacated by Clearwater Republican Jack
Marion Hammer, the NRA’s longtime lobbyist in Florida, eulogized former Republican state Sen. Greg Evers at his funeral this week.
With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the
Florida State University football fans going to the game this weekend can bring their guns – if they have a concealed weapons permit and they keep them locked in their cars. The day after being sued over a policy that bans guns on campus, the university on Wednesday said permitted gun owners can keep guns locked in parked cars. But that doesn’t go far enough for Florida Carry Inc., a gun rights group that sued the school seeking to allow…
Florida State University President John Thrasher announced the members of the President’s Advisory Panel on University Namings and Recognitions, according to a news
Following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history earlier this week in Las Vegas, two Florida lawmakers announced legislation designed
Declaring it is time for Florida to “modernize” it’s voting systems, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King unveiled a policy statement
Florida gun owners who don’t have a concealed weapons permit can now take their firearms with them while fleeing a hurricane. Not that it’s been a big problem in Florida in the past. No one can cite an example of a gun owner being arrested while evacuating ahead of a hurricane, but lawmakers didn’t want what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina 10 years ago happening here. New Orleans Police confiscated hundreds of guns from people’s homes and from…
Soon, a lot more electric vehicles will be on Florida roads. Jeff Brandes wants the state to get ready. At least
Ed Hooper, in his bid to return to Tallahassee, picked up a major endorsement Wednesday from Pasco County Tax Collector
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, and with Hurricane Maria now churning the Atlantic, Florida lawmakers are forming or calling for