Florida bill to allow open-carry

[Charles L. Cotton]

Below is an article I posted on http://www.TexasFirearmsCoalition.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; about the NRA and Unified Sportsmen of Florida push for licensed open-carry in Florida.

Chas.

The National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida (USF) are backing a bill to allow Floridians with concealed weapons permits to carry handguns openly. The bill to remove the concealment requirement and allow so-called "open-carry" was filed by Florida Senator Greg Evers, a Republican from Baker, Florida.

Both the NRA and USF believe the timing is right to expand the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners in Florida. It has been over 23 years since Florida passed its landmark concealed-carry statute that became a model for dozens of states over the following decade. Former NRA President and head of USF Marian Hammer has long been a champion of the Second Amendment and seeing her lead the charge for "open-carry" is no surprise. She is a veteran of political battles with over 40 years experience. She not only knows how to pass legislation to expand constitutional rights, she knows when to advance issues and how to lay the groundwork for successful legislative sessions.

With Marion's leadership, the National Rifle Association and the Unifiied Sportsmen of Florida make an unbeatable team.

[Excaliber]

Below is an article I posted on http://www.TexasFirearmsCoalition.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; about the NRA and Unified Sportsmen of Florida push for licensed open-carry in Florida.

Chas.

The National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida (USF) are backing a bill to allow Floridians with concealed weapons permits to carry handguns openly. The bill to remove the concealment requirement and allow so-called "open-carry" was filed by Florida Senator Greg Evers, a Republican from Baker, Florida.

Both the NRA and USF believe the timing is right to expand the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners in Florida. It has been over 23 years since Florida passed its landmark concealed-carry statute that became a model for dozens of states over the following decade. Former NRA President and head of USF Marian Hammer has long been a champion of the Second Amendment and seeing her lead the charge for "open-carry" is no surprise. She is a veteran of political battles with over 40 years experience. She not only knows how to pass legislation to expand constitutional rights, she knows when to advance issues and how to lay the groundwork for successful legislative sessions.

With Marion's leadership, the National Rifle Association and the Unifiied Sportsmen of Florida make an unbeatable team.

This effort is one to be watched closely. The highly experienced and politically astute 2A supporters managing it will quite likely be building a model that can be successfully replicated elsewhere, just as they did with the "shall issue" carry legislation that has been so successful in many other states.

Open carry advocates in Texas would be wise to observe carefully and take good notes.

[dicion]

This effort is one to be watched closely. The highly experienced and politically astute 2A supporters managing it will quite likely be building a model that can be successfully replicated elsewhere, just as they did with the "shall issue" carry legislation that has been so successful in many other states.

Open carry advocates in Texas would be wise to observe carefully and take good notes.

[Cobra Medic]

This effort is one to be watched closely. The highly experienced and politically astute 2A supporters managing it will quite likely be building a model that can be successfully replicated elsewhere, just as they did with the "shall issue" carry legislation that has been so successful in many other states.

Like they did with shall issue concealed carry, the Gunshine State continues to lead the way for RKBA.

The Florida nonresident license is a nice alternative for people who think the Texas requirements are too burdensome.

[troglodyte]

I appreciate what Florida has done for CC but I wish Texas would step up and take the lead in these matters. Seems we let Florida pave the way and then we follow along. We should just go ahead and open this wide open.

Open carry
Open Campuses
Open Parking lot
Open everywhere any LEO can carry.

Wishful thinking.

[Right2Carry]

I appreciate what Florida has done for CC but I wish Texas would step up and take the lead in these matters. Seems we let Florida pave the way and then we follow along. We should just go ahead and open this wide open.

Open carry
Open Campuses
Open Parking lot
Open everywhere any LEO can carry.

Wishful thinking.

I second that. Our state has become the follower instead of the leader with regards to pro gun legislation.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I appreciate what Florida has done for CC but I wish Texas would step up and take the lead in these matters. Seems we let Florida pave the way and then we follow along. We should just go ahead and open this wide open.

Open carry
Open Campuses
Open Parking lot
Open everywhere any LEO can carry.

Wishful thinking.

Work has been going on for several years and that's the way to get it done. Fireworks, billboards, radio ads, nasty calls and emails to elected officials and saber-rattling does nothing but delay the passage of any bill.

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I appreciate what Florida has done for CC but I wish Texas would step up and take the lead in these matters. Seems we let Florida pave the way and then we follow along. We should just go ahead and open this wide open.

Open carry
Open Campuses
Open Parking lot
Open everywhere any LEO can carry.

Wishful thinking.

I second that. Our state has become the follower instead of the leader with regards to pro gun legislation.

This is flat wrong and making such inflammatory statements does nothing to help expand Second Amendment Rights. The only thing we passed that used Florida as an example was the original CHL statute. Nothing else we've passed in the last 15 years has copied or relied upon any other state's laws.

Chas.

[Liberty]

I appreciate what Florida has done for CC but I wish Texas would step up and take the lead in these matters. Seems we let Florida pave the way and then we follow along. We should just go ahead and open this wide open.

Open carry
Open Campuses
Open Parking lot
Open everywhere any LEO can carry.

Wishful thinking.

I second that. Our state has become the follower instead of the leader with regards to pro gun legislation.

I don't know about that. Some states already had a head start on us.
I moved into Texas in November 1988, from Massachusetts. At that time Texas was also run by the leftist, and Texas actually had fewer gun right than we had in Mass ( I had a a right to carry in Mass. even openly)
In the following years I watched as we had gained the right to be a shall issue permit state. With very strict signage restrictions (30.06) on banning us from places. We saw the removal of places where we are restricted from carrying. We've gained the right to carry at government places, some hospitals, churches, and at police stations. We have removed restrictions one by one. At every legislative session we have made strides forward with very few setbacks.
Folks who don't have their CHLs have also benefited also. With the Castle law, and rules allowing us carry in our cars, I believe we have come a long aways.

A couple years ago I was in Phoenix, I met a stranger and he told me how envious he was of Texas because we can carry almost anywhere. I thought it was a bit ironic, but I understood his point. We have come a long a ways, although it may seem slow, one has to remember that the Texas Legislature only meets every two years. and only has 140 days to do all that it has to do. In perspective our issues are are on the lower end of importance. Budgets and districting have the highest of priorities. Funding our schools keeping the business of the state running smoothly is next. Our issues fall in the "nice things to do." category.

All this has taken a lot of hard work by people whose only reward is our gratitude.

Those who have done all the hard work (and have invested a boatload of their own money) are the ones that set the priorities.

[Right2Carry]

I appreciate what Florida has done for CC but I wish Texas would step up and take the lead in these matters. Seems we let Florida pave the way and then we follow along. We should just go ahead and open this wide open.

Open carry
Open Campuses
Open Parking lot
Open everywhere any LEO can carry.

Wishful thinking.

I second that. Our state has become the follower instead of the leader with regards to pro gun legislation.

This is flat wrong and making such inflammatory statements does nothing to help expand Second Amendment Rights. The only thing we passed that used Florida as an example was the original CHL statute. Nothing else we've passed in the last 15 years has copied or relied upon any other state's laws.

Chas.

Chas,

I am just frustrated that I see other states getting things like employee parking lot bills passed while we continue to struggle with getting ours passed. I didn't mean to insinuate that Texas is copying bills and if that is the way it was interpreted, I apologize. What I want is for our state to lead the way and be first in getting some of these bills passed instead of always being a couple of years behind other states. IIRC Oklahoma has had an employee parking lot bill for at least a year already.

I apologize if you took my comments as inflammatory, it certainly was not my intention. I know there are individuals who work very hard in getting things done in Texas. I do see that it takes Texas longer to get things passed and maybe that is because our legislators only meet every 2 years.

Every time I see another state get something passed that we (Texas) have already failed at, I get frustrated. Florida is getting ready to put forth a bill for licensed open carry while people on this forum are still debating on whether it should even be considered for Texas!

My point is that while we are struggling to get things like campus carry and the employee parking lot passed in Texas, Florida has already accomplished a couple of those and has now moved on to licensed open carry! Florida is leading the charge on reinstating 2A rights while states like Texas continue to struggle in getting some of these laws passed.

Why are we always a couple of years or more behind other states regarding some of these bills?

[Beiruty]

AZ has no lic needed to carry open or concealed? what happened? more do carry? less or more violent crime? why this would not work in TX?

[The Annoyed Man]

Florida's approach is exactly what I've been advocating for Texas all along. Incremental steps is the best way to expand the RKBA because it is the path of least resistance toward the final goal of a legally and fully expressed right. And there will be resistance.

First, licensed open carry and licensed concealed carry, followed by unlicensed open carry and licensed concealed carry, followed by unlicensed constitutional carry of any kind. At that point, the state of Texas can continue to offer a concealed carry license for the purposes of reciprocity with other states, just like Arizona does, but no license would be required for carrying a gun in Texas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I appreciate what Florida has done for CC but I wish Texas would step up and take the lead in these matters. Seems we let Florida pave the way and then we follow along. We should just go ahead and open this wide open.

Open carry
Open Campuses
Open Parking lot
Open everywhere any LEO can carry.

Wishful thinking.

I second that. Our state has become the follower instead of the leader with regards to pro gun legislation.

This is flat wrong and making such inflammatory statements does nothing to help expand Second Amendment Rights. The only thing we passed that used Florida as an example was the original CHL statute. Nothing else we've passed in the last 15 years has copied or relied upon any other state's laws.

Chas.

Chas,

I am just frustrated that I see other states getting things like employee parking lot bills passed while we continue to struggle with getting ours passed. I didn't mean to insinuate that Texas is copying bills and if that is the way it was interpreted, I apologize. What I want is for our state to lead the way and be first in getting some of these bills passed instead of always being a couple of years behind other states. IIRC Oklahoma has had an employee parking lot bill for at least a year already.

I apologize if you took my comments as inflammatory, it certainly was not my intention. I know there are individuals who work very hard in getting things done in Texas. I do see that it takes Texas longer to get things passed and maybe that is because our legislators only meet every 2 years.

Every time I see another state get something passed that we (Texas) have already failed at, I get frustrated. Florida is getting ready to put forth a bill for licensed open carry while people on this forum are still debating on whether it should even be considered for Texas!

My point is that while we are struggling to get things like campus carry and the employee parking lot passed in Texas, Florida has already accomplished a couple of those and has now moved on to licensed open carry! Florida is leading the charge on reinstating 2A rights while states like Texas continue to struggle in getting some of these laws passed.

Why are we always a couple of years or more behind other states regarding some of these bills?

Thanks for the explanation, I better understand your position. In many ways, I agree with you. There have been times during meetings when . . . well, let's say I echo much of what you have said.

I know from comments I hear and read occasionally, that many folks think setting a legislative agenda, and even meeting with our friends in Austin, are nothing meetings that are all smiles and handshakes. Often that's true, but many times we leave meetings with sore hands from pounding fists on tables. I had better shut up now.

Chas.

[Bullwhip]

Mr. Cotton, I read your link, seems to be in favor of Florida open carry, but your replies make me wonder if you support the same thing for Texas. Sorry if I can't read between the lines, but you posted the article and then seemed criticle of of people who supported doin the same thing here.

Clear it up please?

[Liberty]

I heard Mr. Cotton advise someone once.

"Slow is Smooth. Smooth is fast."
Its all about technique

I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about IPDA.