Florida has allowed residents to carry guns without a state permit

Ron DeSantis / Photo EPA-EFE / CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH

Florida's Republican-controlled Legislature voted Thursday to allow gun owners in the third-most populous U.S. state to carry guns without a state permit, fulfilling a campaign promise by Gov. Ron DeSantis as he boosts his expected run for president. the country, reports American "Politico".

DeSantis vowed to act quickly on the legislation.

"You don't need a permission slip from the government to be able to exercise your constitutional rights," Desantis said. "And there are 25 states right now – so half the states allow it." Well, Florida will become the 26th next week because I'm going to sign it into law."

Florida lawmakers approved the bill just days after the Nashville school shooting that killed six people. It drew emotional pleas from Democratic lawmakers who called the measure a "backward step" after Florida enacted several gun restrictions in the wake of the 2018 Parkland massacre, where 17 people were killed.

"It's shameful, it's disrespectful to the families of Parkland and every other Floridian who has lost a loved one to gun violence," said Senator Laurie Berman.

Florida joins a wave of other "red" states that have moved forward with new laws sought by gun rights supporters. Texas, Virginia, Ohio and several other states have tried to loosen gun restrictions, and more than two dozen states have passed laws similar to the one Florida approved Thursday.

Although DeSantis has signaled for months that he supports the law, gun rights advocates have repeatedly called on GOP lawmakers to go further and allow people in the state to openly carry guns. On Thursday, they criticized DeSantis for not going further with the endorsement.

"This bill is a half-measure and not what was promised to gun owners," said Matt Collins, a gun rights supporter and former lobbyist for gun protection groups. “It is not true constitutional carry because it does not include an open carry provision. This bill is poor and failed leadership on the part of Governor DeSantis and the Republican legislative leadership. "Gun owners deserve better."

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