Florida's Gun Laws Face Constitutional Challenges
A recent court ruling has struck down a key age restriction on concealed carry, leaving gun rights advocates urging Republican lawmakers to take action to update state statutes.
The decision by Broward County Judge Frank Ledee found that Florida's prohibition against people under 21 from carrying a concealed firearm is unconstitutional. The ruling was made possible by the US Supreme Court's updated standards for evaluating gun laws based on the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.
However, another recent court ruling has sparked questions and confusion over open carry laws in Florida. A decision by the First District Court of Appeal legalized open carry, but with certain limitations against carrying in a threatening manner or in restricted spaces like government meetings, schools, and bars.
Gun rights activists have long been pushing to expand gun rights in Florida, particularly since the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The tragedy led to changes in state statutes, including raising the legal gun-buying age to 21.
Now, with these recent court rulings, some advocates are calling on lawmakers to take action to update state statutes that align with judicial decisions. Sean Caranna, executive director of Florida Carry, stated that leaving unconstitutional laws on the books creates confusion and urged lawmakers to enact changes.
Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, noted that lawmakers should amend the statute to address these issues and prevent future lawsuits. He expressed confidence that the Florida Legislature will take action in the next session to clean up these laws.
The push for expanding gun rights in Florida is gaining momentum, with some advocates saying recent court rulings have emboldened their efforts. Caranna stated that the state's lawmakers had been warned about potential issues related to these laws since 2010 and should now act on them.
As these developments unfold, it remains to be seen how Florida's gun laws will evolve in response to these constitutional challenges.
A recent court ruling has struck down a key age restriction on concealed carry, leaving gun rights advocates urging Republican lawmakers to take action to update state statutes.
The decision by Broward County Judge Frank Ledee found that Florida's prohibition against people under 21 from carrying a concealed firearm is unconstitutional. The ruling was made possible by the US Supreme Court's updated standards for evaluating gun laws based on the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.
However, another recent court ruling has sparked questions and confusion over open carry laws in Florida. A decision by the First District Court of Appeal legalized open carry, but with certain limitations against carrying in a threatening manner or in restricted spaces like government meetings, schools, and bars.
Gun rights activists have long been pushing to expand gun rights in Florida, particularly since the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The tragedy led to changes in state statutes, including raising the legal gun-buying age to 21.
Now, with these recent court rulings, some advocates are calling on lawmakers to take action to update state statutes that align with judicial decisions. Sean Caranna, executive director of Florida Carry, stated that leaving unconstitutional laws on the books creates confusion and urged lawmakers to enact changes.
Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University, noted that lawmakers should amend the statute to address these issues and prevent future lawsuits. He expressed confidence that the Florida Legislature will take action in the next session to clean up these laws.
The push for expanding gun rights in Florida is gaining momentum, with some advocates saying recent court rulings have emboldened their efforts. Caranna stated that the state's lawmakers had been warned about potential issues related to these laws since 2010 and should now act on them.
As these developments unfold, it remains to be seen how Florida's gun laws will evolve in response to these constitutional challenges.
. if the court says its unconstitutional, then change it, no need 2 argue about it online lol. seems like lawmakers r just gonna sit there n let these court rulings dictate what happens nxt. also, why cant they just follow whats best 4 florida n not just stick 2 outdated laws? 
this is all so frustrating
another court ruling means more loopholes for guns in florida 
open carry now, concealed carry soon... 
and lawmakers are all like "oh no, what do we do?" 
just pass a law already! 
. Like, what happens when guns are more easily accessible to people who might not know how to handle them properly? 
And I also think it's interesting that some advocates are saying that lawmakers have been warned about potential issues with these laws for years and should just update them already 
... But at the same time, I don't want to dismiss the concerns of gun rights activists who feel like their Second Amendment rights are being infringed upon 
...
It's a tough call.
Like what even is happening here?
lawmakers need to get their act together and update the stats ASAP so we don't have any more lawsuits or chaos. it's like they're stuck in a loop and can't decide whether to relax gun laws or tighten them up 
and then some people are all, "Uh, wait, that's not right?" 
. And now they're trying to figure out what's next for open carry laws... it's all so confusing 
, while others are like, "No way, let's just leave things as is" 
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. and can someone pls explain to me why open carry is still a thing in Florida? seems like a pretty straightforward issue to me 
it just feels like the gun lobby is pushin for more guns, no matter what. don't get me wrong, i'm all for people havin the right to own firearms, but let's make sure we got laws in place that actually keep everyone safe, you know? 
just thinkin' 
like they did with the age restriction thingy... now we got people wonderin' about open carry 
without fear of, you know... 
and update those laws ASAP 
anywayz 