Emerging as a hot topic among Florida lawmakers, Rep. Anthony Sabatini is calling for a special session to deliberate constitutional carry legislation. Sabatini’s move comes just days after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill that will allow people in Georgia to carry concealed handguns without first getting licenses from the state.
Sabatini, who is running for Congress, previously filed bills that would permit Floridians to carry without a permit, though none made it to the floor for a vote.
“During the 2020, 2021, and 2022 legislative sessions, constitutional carry was blocked from being heard in any committee by Republicans,” said Sabatini. “During this time, Gov. Ron DeSantis has repeatedly called for constitutional carry to be placed on his desk. He has now expressed support for convening a special session for the purpose of passing constitutional carry. We must act now to get this bill on his desk and signed into law.”
When asked by reporters what legislative action would be conducted during the upcoming April special session, DeSantis committed to tackling redistricting, but alluded to other issues that may come into play in future special sessions, including constitutional carry.
“You know, there are a few things we still need to deal with like property insurance, data privacy, and constitutional carry, but we need to get this [redistricting] done,” said DeSantis. “If the opportunity presents itself, we’ll cross that bridge.”
24 states currently have laws that permit constitutional carry, with Alabama, Ohio, Indiana, and Georgia have done so most recently this year. While each state has its law written slightly variant on each other, the idea of constitutional carry is largely predicated on the idea of a state not prohibiting individuals who can legally possess a firearm from carrying handguns.
Alaska was the first state to pass laws regarding constitutional carry in 2003, with states following suit in the recent years since. Vermont, however, has been a constitutional carry state since 1793, with it written in its constitution.
The irony that you cannot enter Florida without crossing a Constitutional carry state, except by ship or air, is not lost on many gun owners in Florida.