Pro-Gun Bills For Florida In 2017; Is Open Carry On The Way? Campus Carry?

By Robert Farago via The Truth About Guns

Ammoland.com offers the following list of firearms-related bills filed for the 2017 Florida legislative session. They expect Gunshine State pols will file more pro-gun bills to be filed before the session starts on March 7.

SB-128 Restoring Self-defense Immunity – by Sen. Rob Bradley (Republican) – Restores the self-defense immunity provision of the stand your ground law to the original intent of the Legislature. Restores the presumption of innocence, of a person who exercises self-defense, until proven guilty by the state. (SB-128 currently has the following sponsors. In addition to Sen. Rob Bradley, Senators Dennis Baxley, Aaron Bean and Wilton Simpson have cosponsored the bill so far)

SB-140 Open Carry of a Handgun – by Sen. Greg Steube (Republican) – Allows persons licensed to carry a Concealed Weapon or Firearm (CW) to carry openly; removes the restriction against CW license holders carrying on college and university campuses; removes the restriction against CW license holders carrying firearms inside the passenger terminal of an airport (outside the secure area) ; removes the restriction against CW carrying in courthouses under certain conditions;

SB-142 Storage of Firearms – by Sen. Gary Farmer (Democrat) – Removes exceptions in the safe storage of firearms law and makes the gun owner a criminal if a person under 16 years of age breaks into a home or vehicle and steals a firearm.

SB-170 Adding Prohibited Places for Weapons and Firearms – by Sen. Oscar Braynon (Democrat) – Prohibits Concealed Weapons and Firearms license holders from carrying firearms into any performing arts center or legitimate theater.

SB-254 “Assault Weapons” ban – by Sen. Linda Stewart (Democrat) – Bans the sale and possession of semiautomatic handguns, rifles and shotguns that use a detachable magazine or tubular magazine (almost all semiautomatic firearms). Provides for firearms to be surrendered to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

HB-167 “Assault Weapons” ban – by Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (Democrat) – Bans the sale and possession of semiautomatic handguns, rifles and shotguns that use a detachable magazine or tubular magazine (almost all semiautomatic firearms). Provides for firearms to be surrendered to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

HB-236 Adding Prohibited Places for Weapons and Firearms – by Rep. Cynthia A. Stafford (Democrat) – Prohibits Concealed Weapons and Firearms license holders from carrying firearms into any performing arts center or legitimate theater.

HB-245 Restoring Self-defense Immunity – by Rep. Bobby Payne (Republican) – Restores the self-defense immunity provision of the stand your ground law to the original intent of the Legislature. Restores the presumption of innocence, of a person who exercises self-defense, until proven guilty by the state.

HB-291 Constitutional Amendment to Exempt Law Enforcement from Gun Control – by Rep. Don Hahnfeldt (Republican) To exempt law enforcement from the 72-Hour Waiting Period on the personal purchase of personal handguns. In 1990 law enforcement led the charge to impose a gun control measure on you and me — a 3-day Waiting Period on the purchase of handguns — but they failed to persuade the Legislature to exempt law enforcement. They’re back trying again.

HB-6001 Concealed Weapons & Firearms In Airport Terminals – by Rep. Jake Raburn (Republican) – Removes the restriction against CW license holders carrying firearms inside the passenger terminal of an airport but retains the restriction of carrying firearms past inside the secure area beyond the security check point.

HB-6005 Campus Carry – by Rep. Scott Plakon (Republican) – Removes provision prohibiting concealed carry license holders from carrying a handgun into college or university facility for self-defense.