Florida: Report on Legislative Committee Action on Wednesday 3/4/15

DATE:   March 5, 2015
TO:        USF & NRA Member and Friends
FROM:  Marion P. Hammer
              USF Executive Director
              NRA Past President

If you want to review the current versions of the bills, click on the blue underlined bill number, they are the most current versions of the bills.  A new version is prepared every time a bill is amended (changed) in committee.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015:

SB-290 PASSED by a Vote of 5-1 in the Senate Community Affairs Committee (Voting FOR the bill were Senators Simpson, Brandes, Abruzzo, Bradley, Dean.  AGAINST the bill was Senator Geraldine Thompson)

CS/SB-290 Mandatory Evacuation by Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) –  Provides an exemption from criminal penalties for carrying a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm when complying with a mandatory evacuation order during a declared state of emergency. Restores the right to protect yourself and your family during an emergency, mandatory evacuation.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015:

HB-493  PASSED by a Vote of 9-2 in the House Criminal Justice Committee (Voting FOR the bill were Representatives Trujillo, Baxley, Fant, Harrell, Kerner, Latvala, Pilon, Plakon, Pritchett, Van Zant. AGAINST the bill were Representatives Bracy and Watson

CS/HB-493 Mandatory Evacuation by Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (R-Ft. Myers)
Provides an exemption from criminal penalties for carrying a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm when complying with a mandatory evacuation order during a declared state of emergency. Restores the right to protect yourself and your family during an emergency, mandatory evacuation.

The bill was amended to add a time frame of 48 hours to evacuate and clarification that "evacuate" means to leave. 

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015:

HB-4023  PASSED by a Vote of 12-0 in the House Criminal Justice Committee (Voting FOR the bill were Representatives Trujillo, Baxley, Fant, Harrell, Kerner, Latvala, Pilon, Plakon, Pritchett, Van Zant,  Bracy and Watson.  AGAINST the bill -- none

CS/HB-4023 Slungshot by Representative Neil Combee (R-Auburndale) is a bill to repeal the ban of slungshots also known as "monkey fists." These are common self-defense tools -- often used as key rings.

Thank you for contacting legislators concerning these bills.  Your voice was heard.