Florida Report: Emergency Evacuation Bill Passes the Florida Senate

DATE:  March 24, 2015
TO:      USF & NRA Members and Friends
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
            USF Executive Director
            NRA Past President

SB-290, Firearms/Emergency Evacuation by Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) was heard on the Senate Floor today, March 24, 2015, and PASSED by a vote of 29-10.  All Republicans and three (3) Democrats voted for the bill. The 10 who voted against the bill were anti-gun Democrats.

Click here to view vote: 

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2015/0290/Vote/SenateVote_s0290c2007.PDF

SB-290 is a bill to protect citizens from being disarmed and charged with a crime for carrying a weapon or firearm during a mandatory evacuation ordered by the Governor or local government during a declared state of emergency. 

WHY DO WE NEED SB-290?

When you're ordered under a mandatory evacuation to take your family, pets and important documents and leave your home and other belongings behind, you should not be deprived of the ability to protect yourself and your family.  You should not be denied the right to take your firearms with you rather than leave them behind for looters.  This bill is especially important for law-abiding people in a state that is prone to evacuations due to hurricanes. This bill is about your safety and the safety of your family.  Read the bill here:   CS/CS/SB-290 Emergency Evacuation 

The bill now moves to House and the very capable hands of Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (R-Ft. Myers) who passed the bill out of the House last year only to have it fail in the Senate.