Mitch Perry
Florida’s relaxed rules regarding who can use a gun have led to critics call it “Gunshine State.” And that was before this year’s Legislative Session got underway.
Current proposals before state lawmakers this spring include a proposal that would allow college students to carry concealed weapons on campus. They’re also considering arming public school personnel to help protect children. Also, don’t forget the Sen. Jeff Brandes-sponsored bill that in the event of a hurricane-based evacuation, gun owners without a license will still be able to carry a concealed weapon are able to pack up their arms during said evacuation.
Although there has been criticism of the proposals in the Legislature from Democrats, but they’re far out-numbered, and in a few cases, are finding common cause with their GOP colleagues on such issues.
Now comes a poll from two gun-control groups that say the masses in Florida aren’t on-board with these proposals.
Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Florida Moms Demand Action have commissioned a poll that actually surveys more Republicans than Democrats (35 to 32 percent). Among the findings?
- 61 percent of Floridians oppose requiring colleges and universities to allow concealed weapons on their campuses;
- 61 percent of Floridians oppose changing Florida law to allow guns in K-12 schools, and;
- Only 8 percent of Floridians say the state’s gun laws should be weakened, compared with 48 percent who would like to see gun laws strengthened, and 39 percent who would like gun laws to remain unchanged.
“The poll shows that Floridians overwhelmingly oppose the gun lobby’s misguided push to force guns onto college campuses and allow them in K-12 schools,” said Cheryl Anderson, a volunteer with the Florida Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We already know campus police, college presidents, faculty, and students stand against this legislation. This is more evidence that the legislators who support these dangerous bills are out of touch with what Floridians really want.”
This month the two groups held a rally on the steps of the Old Capitol before meeting with lawmakers and staff members. They say they also delivered about 12,000 postcards to legislators signed by Floridians with the message “Backpacks and bullets don’t mix.
Momentum Analysis and Chesapeake Beach Consulting conducted 800 telephone interviews with likely 2016 Florida voters March 11-15. The margin of error is +/ 3.5. The survey says 35 percent of those interviewed identified themselves as Republican, 5 percent independent but leaning Republican, 32 percent Democrat, 6 percent independent but leaning Democrat, and 28 percent independent. When asked whether they were more conservative or liberal, the results came out 35 percent net conservative and 22 percent net liberal.
