Gun Bills Get Hearings Next Week
October 16th, 2015 by flanewsThe Florida legislature will take a look at a variety of gun bills for 2016 starting next week. As Matt Galka tells us, the proposals set up another high profile gun fight.
It might be too early to call 2016 the year of the gun, but another year of gun debate in the Florida legislature won’t be a stretch.
Three high profile pieces of legislation are expected to be at the forefront of policy making. One bill being considered would allow open carry for Floridians. The NRA says allowing a person to visibly show their gun protects concealed carry permit holders from getting arrested for accidental exposure of their weapon.
“People who have licenses to carry concealed are being arrested, charged, and prosecuted, because the firearm being carried concealed accidentally and unintentionally becomes exposed to the sight of another person,” said NRA spokeswoman Marion Hammer.
Another proposal would allow permit holders to take their weapons into public meetings including in the Capitol.
There’s also the guns on campus bill which has already cleared one committee. Governor Rick Scott dodged questions about the proposals earlier this week.
“I haven’t seen the proposals,” he repeated before saying he believed in the Second Amendment.
The Senates democratic leader made it clear where she stood.
“Open carry? I understand lots of states have it, but because other states have it doesn’t mean that we need it here,” said Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa).
Two of the gun proposals will be heard again on Tuesday.
The guns on campus proposal failed earlier this year after staunch opposition from schools and campus police departments.
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