Florida legislators are considering a bill to reduce the waiting period for gun purchases. Currently, gun buyers in Florida must wait a minimum of three days for a background check by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), unless they have a Florida concealed carry permit. State Representative Joel Rudman believes that with today’s technology, these checks should be completed within three business days.
The three-day wait was implemented after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. However, Rudman mentioned that there were instances where background checks took up to two years for law-abiding citizens. FDLE refutes this claim, noting that 98% of transactions are finalized within minutes, with over 82,000 checks done in September 2023 alone.
Luis Valdes, Florida Gun Owners director, voiced his opinion for the removal of waiting periods altogether, citing that they don’t significantly impact crime rates. Additionally, Florida recently abolished the need for a concealed carry permit, effective from July 1.
If approved, the proposed change will be effective from July 2024. The Florida legislature will commence committee hearings on various bills this month, with voting set for the session beginning January 9.
