House Backs Gun Bills, But ‘Trouble’ Is Ahead In Senate

February 4, 2016

After more than three hours of debate — with most Republicans in favor and nearly all Democrats opposed — the House approved a pair of controversial gun-related measures Wednesday that may never reach the Senate floor.

The House spent more than 80 minutes arguing the merits of a proposal (HB 4001) that would allow the more than 1.4 million Floridians with concealed-weapons licenses to pack heat while on state college and university campuses.

The measure passed 80-37 with Tallahassee Democrat Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, who co-sponsored the bill, joining all but two Republicans — Reps. Ray Pilon of Sarasota and Bill Hager of Delray Beach — in support. Two Democrats who were initially recorded as supporting the bill later changed their votes to oppose it.

Another 100 minutes was spent on a separate proposal (HB 163) that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly display their sidearms in public, something banned in Florida since the concealed-weapons law was established in 1987

“We have no constitutional basis to infringe upon the rights of a Floridian to openly carry,” said Rep Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach who sponsored the open-carry measure, which was approved 80-38. “We are for more rights for everyone. We are for more freedom for everyone. We are for more liberty for everyone.”

The proposal would require people who openly carry to maintain the guns in holsters, cases or bags. The bill would also acknowledge that private employers can display written notices stating that possession of firearms on their property is prohibited.

Rehwinkel Vasilinda again joined the GOP majority in support of the bill. Republicans Keith Perry of Gainesville and Chris Latvala of Clearwater voted against open-carry.

Opponent Ed Narain, a Tampa Democrat who recalled at age 12 having a gun put in his face while being robbed of bus money, said lawmakers shouldn’t let fear drive decision-making.

“We don’t need to resolve every dispute we have with a bullet, we’re better than that,” Narain said. “We can defend our communities without giving a gun to every Rambo or John Wayne to openly carry in public.”

An amendment added Tuesday to the open-carry bill also would let lawmakers with concealed-carry licenses hang on to their guns during legislative meetings and on the House and Senate floor. State law prohibits people from carrying guns during legislative committee meetings.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs, said the proposal to allow lawmakers to carry guns during legislative meetings could lessen the chances of the overall open-carry bill succeeding in the Senate.

“Just a guess of mine, without talking to anyone in the Senate, this bill is already hostile to begin with over there, and now add to the fact that they can carry guns in the Senate chamber, I hoping that that turns out to be poison pill,” Moskowitz sad.

Before the House voted on the bills, Senate President Andy Gardiner reiterated his belief that both the open-carry and campus-carry measures “are in trouble.” Neither has made it through the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Miami Republican Miguel Diaz de la Portilla.

“They’re in Judiciary, and I allow the chairs to make the decisions on what bills they want to hear,” Gardiner said. “Sen. Diaz de la Portilla has already decided not to hear the campus-carry bill. It was his decision. And now I think he has some concerns about open-carry.”

The Senate version of open-carry (SB 300) may be heard by the Judiciary Committee next week.

Diaz de la Portilla has said he’s open to considering amendments that could draw opposition from Second Amendment groups. That includes proposals by the Florida Sheriffs Association related to inadvertent or accidental displays of firearms. The sheriffs’ proposals wouldn’t allow open-carry and have been opposed by gun-rights groups.

The Florida Police Chiefs Association and some county sheriffs support have shown support for open-carry,

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said after Wednesday’s meeting the House doesn’t advance bills based upon what the Senate may or may not do.

“Our job is to focus on the priorities of the House, and this House has shown in history to be conservative on gun issues and very supportive of Second Amendment rights,” Crisafulli said. “We feel that we passed a couple of good bills to send over to the Senate, and we’ll see what happens from there.”

Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, said while discussing the campus-carry issue that there hasn’t been an increase in accidental discharges of guns or the “wild, wild west” scenarios that opponents have forecast, even as the number of people with concealed-weapons licenses has grown in Florida.

“This fear-mongering of allowing a mature adult to make an adult decision has to stop,” Smith said.

Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora, said allowing concealed-weapons license holders, who must be at least 21 years old, to have guns on campus would allow women to defend themselves from assaults.

But Democrats pointed to the stress of college life, which also includes widespread use of alcohol. They argued lawmakers should instead increase funding for training of campus security and for mental-health services.

“We continue to inject more and more guns into our society,” said Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg. “This is a recipe for disaster.”

Rep. Darryl Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat who passionately implored members to not “let this bullet leave this chamber,” worried that the bills will make it tough for police to differentiate good guys from bad guys, and that shootings on campuses will become “commonplace.”

“Will we become numb to guns on campus and fights that break out and lives that are taken?” Rouson said. “That’s what I fear.”

by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida

Comments

12 Responses to “House Backs Gun Bills, But ‘Trouble’ Is Ahead In Senate”

  1. sniper on February 8th, 2016 12:18 pm

    First: Any idea when the Senate will hear these proposals?

    Second: When was the last time an open carry citizen was shot by a criminal(haven’t heard of it)? When was the last time an unarmed citizen was shot by a criminal(probably since I started typing this post)?

  2. Sedition on February 5th, 2016 2:35 pm

    Dear Kate,
    You have no idea as to how much and under what conditions I practice. I have no doubts of my marksmanship.

    Even though you’ve proven yourself to be a fear mongering hoplophobe ( and there IS psychiatric help for that), I would still risk my life in saving you with my “evil guns” if I found you in mortal danger.
    I take responsibility for my own survival and safety and the safety of those around me. It’s what decent people do…not that you would know anything about that. Cops have NO DUTY to protect an individual…as per the Supreme Court,,. once again…research. I don’t expect the police to be there to protect me 24/7.

    If you see us as a bunch of gun toting vigilantes…you’ve been watching too much MSNBC and reading to much from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

    I’ll, at least, at the end of the day, be able to look myself in the mirror and walk in public without fear whether I open or conceal carry. You can hide in your own little safe space all you please. The simple fact is, you’re surrounded by CCWers every day you venture out of your house. Deal with it. We’re not out to get you or anyone else. We just want to be left alone.

  3. Bob B on February 5th, 2016 12:02 pm

    Remember, the NRA does not care about your rights. They do not care about ANYONE’S rights. All they care about is selling guns. They are a manufacturers group. Their sole purpose is to increase gun sales by any means possible.

  4. dm on February 5th, 2016 9:52 am

    Dear Kate,

    You don’t have to worry about me saving you -
    I only want to try to protect my family & myself -

    YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN !!!!!

    (Good Luck)

  5. Kate on February 5th, 2016 7:49 am

    Dear Sedition:
    You are crazy, that is all any one can say. No one is trying to take your guns off you or from you. You have bought in just like the NRA thought you would. You are doing nothing more than supporting an industry that is making millions from your FEAR. Police have to practice their shooting skills very often with moving targets, shooting the shooter tests, not wounding innocent people. BUT you have a gun and no practice with live humans and you will save yourself and others. Think again, cops need practice but you and your the all mighty gun totting fool will protect yourself and others. That’s where you are wrong, I am still frightened of people like you who think you can do it all and save the day. Try saving your money and stop supporting an industry that enjoys keeping you in fear and stealing your money.

  6. Susan on February 5th, 2016 5:08 am

    I have mixed feelings about this. It does make me a little uncomfortable thinking about people around me carrying guns openly. However, the reality is that every week almost there is a soft target hit and open carry would mitigate that. I would feel better about it if there were automatic semi-annual agency checks for license holders. What really makes me mad is that I never realized that the Senate could simply ignore a bill that the House passes overwhelmingly.

  7. Stumpknocker on February 4th, 2016 8:15 pm

    Just because a person is allowed to open carry dose not mean they can’t be refused service at stores or where ever private property is,now what that mean is like other states that have the open carry law you will see signs advising no firearms allowed. Which is nice for the bad guys cause now they know where the next victim will be. The other side of that is that people who do carry will just leave their firearm in their car in the parking lot in an unlocked vehicle and it will be stolen just like so many are here in Escamia County Fl.

  8. Boo Jones on February 4th, 2016 3:26 pm

    I cannot sit by idle while senate leaders decide weather to abide by the constitution…This is a liberal fear monger display to take our liberties…

  9. Sedition on February 4th, 2016 1:38 pm

    Do some research, Kate.
    You are 3 times more likely to be unlawfully shot by a police officer than a CCW holder and many more times more likely to be shot by a member of the general public.
    As a side note, what you and your friends “want” or “don’t want” holds no weight over our Constitutional rights.
    You remember that pesky little thing called the “Bill of Rights”, don’t you?

    Second side note…in Florida, you are twice as likely to be attacked by an alligator than illegally shot by a CCW holder.

  10. nod on February 4th, 2016 10:17 am

    My liberal friend was telling me how dangerous guns are, so I laid my gun on the table and we watched it for five hours and it didn’t hurt anyone. As a matter of fact it didn’t even move.

  11. Dano on February 4th, 2016 9:13 am

    I don’t know why people think guns are more dangerous just because you can see it. There are guns all around you already when you go to restaurants and art festivals and no one has acted out. The main purpose of this bill is to protect concealed permit holders from being charged for accidental exposure.

  12. Kate on February 4th, 2016 8:06 am

    I certainly hope so. We are not the old WILD WEST! I and many of my friends do not want to go out to restaurants or art festivals and see open carry by drunks and idiots who may get angry and act out.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News