Renzo Downey
Gov. Ron DeSantis is lauding the U.S. Supreme Court for its ruling Thursday that expands and protects the Second Amendment.
Florida’s Republican Governor has vowed to expand Floridians’ ability to carry firearms, and the Court’s 6-3 decision released Thursday morning is already pressing the issue. During an appearance in Fort Lauderdale Thursday afternoon, a reporter asked DeSantis whether the decision that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public affects his own plans.
In Florida, DeSantis has promised to pass permitless carry legislation in recent months, vowing to pass such a proposal before he leaves office. Such a law, dubbed “constitutional carry” by advocates, would remove the need for Floridians to acquire a permit to carry a handgun, although definitions differ on whether such legislation applies to open or concealed carry.
“What you don’t want is to have a government bureaucrat stymie your ability to exercise your constitutional rights, and I think that’s been the concern that people have had,” DeSantis said.
The decision won’t immediately impact Florida, which prohibits local governments from implementing gun control measures that are stricter than state law. However, the ruling will affect residents of some of the nation’s largest cities. About a quarter of Americans live in states expected to be affected by the ruling, according to The Associated Press.
“You have some of those states like New York, they just do not want people to be able to exercise their rights,” DeSantis said. “A lot of the people moving here from there are doing it because they don’t feel safe in a lot of those communities, so all their policies have been a total failure when it comes to public safety.”
“I know they want to go after a lot of law-abiding citizens and their rights, but they let criminals out of jail,” he continued. “They don’t prosecute people the way they need to be prosecuting people.”
DeSantis noted he hasn’t yet read the decision by Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative Justice who is reportedly close with the Governor. DeSantis called it a great decision from what he has seen and added that Thomas, who he called a fantastic Justice, rarely does anything incorrect.
The ruling follows recent high-profile mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. In Buffalo, 10 Black people were killed and three others injured at a supermarket during an attack livestreamed by the shooter. In Uvalde, a shooter killed 19 students and two teachers.
The decision also comes as Congress is working toward gun legislation in the wake of those shootings and others.
Earlier this month, DeSantis criticized Florida Democrats for their calls for a Special Session on gun violence.
“With all due respect to these leftists, they just want to come after your Second Amendment rights,” DeSantis said. “Let’s just be honest, that’s what they want to do. They don’t want you — they view you, as a law-abiding citizen, as the target of what they’re trying to do.”
18 comments
The law is Supreme--and vice versa
June 23, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Our Governor is in step with the nation’s highest judicial authority.
Don’t want to carry a gun? Don’t. Don’t want other people carrying guns? That’s a bit more problematic from now on. Afraid of people who might be carrying guns? Then start working TODAY on building a society based on mutual respect, courtesy, and the rapid, unstinting and complete enforcement of just laws–just for everybody, including the sober, law abiding citizen.
L.Mark Mckee
June 24, 2022 at 8:38 am
Wow, a most excellent way of stating it. Years now, the lack of respect and Godlessness in our land has come to a head.
PeterH
June 23, 2022 at 5:12 pm
It’s time for Florida businesses to install metal detectors at Mall entrances, movie theaters, restaurants, hotels, airport entrances. DeSantis has given a green light for action we will all regret.
Ryan Nielsen
June 23, 2022 at 9:44 pm
So make every already struggling business pay for metal detectors & fund the security guards that would be required to man them? Do you want to be treated like you’re treated by the TSA everywhere you go? “Put anything metal into the bin.”
More lives are saved by good people with guns, protecting against bad people with guns than infringing on the rights of We the People could ever do. The 2A was meant to protect against a tyrannical gov and for your protection against those who would intentionally do you kill you (or your family) because they haven’t been taking their meds. The numbers don’t lie, armed citizens save innocent lives.
L.Mark Mckee
June 24, 2022 at 8:42 am
We need training from the IDF. TSA couldn’t pour slop from a boot with the instructions written on the sole.
Big Ron
June 24, 2022 at 9:48 pm
Have more soy
Tom m
July 6, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Such a statement you unknowingly make. It’s obviously seen by your statement you have no clue what you are talking about
The.Truth.Comes.Out.In.The.End
June 23, 2022 at 5:16 pm
Amazing how the right continues to say that leftists are coming for their guns. Do you know who hasn’t said that? Democrats. They have said they want thorough background checks. Why would they want that? To keep Republicans from owning guns? Everybody? No, Democrats want to be sure that those with “issues” or a history of domestic violence can not purchase guns. I have heard some say open carry shouldn’t happen. I agree with that. We already have too many people carrying guns that shoot others when they get into an argument. Perhaps Gov Disantis would like to live in the wild wild west. I like the movies, but do not want to transport myself back to the old shoot em up west. I am not a Democrat nor a Republican. I was a teacher for 39 years. For those that want teachers to carry guns to work, trust me when I tell you that it would scare the crap out of me if certain teachers I know had a gun with them at school. Those that think “the left” wants to take your guns, please show me one proposed law that says they want to confiscate all guns.
Rich7553
June 25, 2022 at 4:14 pm
1. Both Beto and Feinstein have said it.
2. No other enumerated right has a prerequisite such as a background check.
3. Would you support background checks and revocation of any other rights for those having “issues”? Voting perhaps?
4. Your fears do not determine other’s rights.
5. Now you’ve moved the goalposts from saying it to a bill being drafted.
It’s fortunate you are a FORMER teacher.
Jim Morton
July 5, 2022 at 6:25 am
Why do I keep hearing that all the Democrats want is a universal background check. When a person buys a gun, they have to fill out a form 4473 and they call ATF (or in the case of Florida, FDLE) to verify that the person purchasing the gun is not mental or criminal. I THOUGHT THAT’S WHAT A BACKGROUND CHECK IS… This background check happens even at gun shows. The 4473 paperwork is a legal document and has teeth to convict both the buyer and the seller if laws are violated. So the argument that all that is wanted is a background check is a moot point. We not only have background check universally but the documents required have teeth for both seller and buyer. My point being is that the democrats have what they SAY they want and more, but what they really mean is that they don’t want people to carry guns because they are afraid.
Edward A Vazquez
June 24, 2022 at 12:38 am
Right now, Florida is one of ONLY 4 STATES where OPEN CARRY is illegal—even with a permit! (The other 3 are California, Illinois, and New York.)
Seriously, with a red state such as this one, who needs blue states?
Walter Miles
June 24, 2022 at 9:24 am
Wrong….check the facts! Open carry is legal in Florida when you follow the laws and rules set in place for open carry.
Rich7553
June 25, 2022 at 4:17 pm
The exceptions in 790.25(3) are only affirmative defenses, but one can still be arrrested and charged with violating 790.053.
M Coffman
June 24, 2022 at 12:47 am
There is no “expanding” the 2nd amendment.
MgM
June 24, 2022 at 7:46 am
I did read it,
In a nutshell, the decision means that a state cannot deny a person a permit if they pass the background and reasonable requirements, just like over 40 other states already have.
Simply put; “Shall Issue’, not, ‘May Issue’.
This decision does not address open-carry, nor will it.
As for Florida, All businesses have the right to refuse service (they don’t need a reason, it’s called ‘Tresspassing”). If Disney 7-11, or any other business doesn’t’ want you in their premises, they can call the Police to have you removed. Simple.
So the idea that Businesses are being forced to accept armed citizens in their premises is a falsehood.
Sandy
June 24, 2022 at 10:54 am
Thank you. I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Arlo
June 24, 2022 at 12:15 pm
You mean, turn FL into a giant prison? No violence in prisons, is there?
Jim Morton
July 5, 2022 at 7:01 am
Overall I think that a constitutional carry is good. I also think some sensible laws should also apply such as: to carry concealed you need a permit, background checks should continue. If a person open carries then I know they can be a threat (not that they are but that they could be). Concealed is another thing altogether, because you don’t know if a person is a threat or not. I believe that open carry should be allowed by everyone who passes a background check and concealed carry requires a permit. I also believe that use of a firearm needs to be in accordance with the law. Guns don’t kill. People kill. Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law when someone violates the law. Arrest a person, not the gun from the person. ONLY an idiot carries a gun without serious proper training. I don’t fear an idiot with a gun. I keep a good situational awareness and I train constantly. It’s the person who doesn’t train (mostly gun fearing liberals) that is in fear all the time…
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