Fairfax, Va. - The NRA is pleased to announce Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed NRA-backed Constitutional Carry on Monday morning, making the Sunshine State the 26th in the nation where law-abiding residents do not need to pay additional fees and apply for a government permit to exercise their right to defend themselves and their families with a firearm outside their homes.
“This is a momentous step in the Constitutional Carry movement as now the majority of American states recognize the Constitution protects the right for law-abiding Americans to defend themselves outside their homes without fees or permits,” said Randy Kozuch, interim executive director, NRA-ILA. “The carry movement began decades ago and the NRA has been working to get this legislation passed throughout America. Therefore, today is indeed a day to celebrate.”
Constitutional Carry protects Americans’ right to carry a firearm for self-defense. With DeSantis’ signature, Floridians are no longer be required to obtain additional permissions from the government and pay additional fees to carry their firearm outside of their home. The law does not affect previously issued permits to carry and allows those who still wish to obtain a permit in order to carry in states recognizing Florida permits to do so.
Contrary to claims by the gun control lobby and their supporters in the legislature, this law does not allow anyone prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm to now carry a firearm. Felons and other disqualified persons can still be punished under federal, state and local statutes for unlawful possession of a firearm.
The bill passage marks a full circle when it comes to the carry movement in Florida. Marion Hammer, past president of the NRA, and Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the NRA, helped spearhead the national carry movement when they worked to pass a Florida law that recognized citizens’ rights to carry outside their home. That 1987 law enabled Floridians to obtain “shall issue” permits to carry outside their home. “Shall issue” permits mean anyone who is law-abiding and not prohibited from firearm possession will be issued a permit if they apply for one.
Florida joins Georgia, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, in allowing law-abiding individuals to carry a concealed handgun without a government-issued permit.
The NRA would like to thank House sponsor Chuck Brannan and Senate sponsor Jay Collins for righteously championing this landmark self-defense law as well as House Speaker Paul Renner for his principled leadership.
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