Ron DeSantis Pledges to Sign Nationwide Concealed Carry Bill
August 3, 2023
In response to Ron DeSantis’s pledge to sign a bill allowing concealed carry of permitted firearms nationwide, DNC spokesperson Ammar Moussa released the following statement:
“There it is — Ron DeSantis found another plank of his dangerous Florida blueprint that he wants to take nationwide. While our communities are torn apart by senseless gun violence, MAGA Republicans like DeSantis are promising to undermine enforcement of states’ gun safety laws and parroting gun lobby talking points. They’ve made it clear that the gun lobby will always matter more than the safety of our schools, our communities, and the American people.”
DeSantis just pledged to sign a bill allowing concealed carry of permitted firearms nationwide.
WMUR: “Would you, as president, sign a bill that would allow for national concealed carry of permitted firearms for responsible gun owners?
DeSantis: “Yes.”
Earlier this year, DeSantis signed a bill behind closed doors that could make it easier for criminals to carry guns — while standing shoulder to shoulder with the NRA.
NBC News: “Ron DeSantis quietly legalizes carrying concealed weapons without permits”
USA Today: “Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly signed a bill Monday that eliminates licensing requirements for Florida residents to carry a concealed firearm in most public places.
“The Florida Senate voted 27-13 last week and DeSantis signed the bill as quickly as he got it in a closed-door gathering with supporters, making Florida the 26th state that does not require a concealed weapons license.”
Tampa Bay Times: “Gov. Ron DeSantis was recorded Thursday telling a member of a gun rights group that he supports allowing Floridians to openly carry guns in public — a measure that has been publicly opposed by some law enforcement officials and that would go further than any bill now filed for the upcoming legislative session.
“‘Yeah, absolutely,’ DeSantis is heard to say during a 10-second interaction recorded by Valdes and shared with the Times. ‘I don’t think they’re going to do it, but I would absolutely.’”
DeSantis’s push for an extreme anti-gun safety agenda is wildly out of step with the American people, regardless of political party.
NBC News: “Even as DeSantis pushed the proposal ahead of his expected bid for president, public polling on the issue has shown it to be widely unpopular with both political parties. Last month, a poll conducted by the University of North Florida showed 77% of the 1,492 respondents were somewhat or strongly opposed to the permitless carry legislation, a number that included 62% of Republicans.”
Axios: “An overwhelming majority of American voters favor a wide variety of gun control measures and over half worry that they could be victims of gun violence, according to a Fox News poll out this week.”
Pew Research: “Majorities in both parties also oppose allowing people to carry concealed firearms without a permit.”
Throughout his career, DeSantis has repeatedly done the NRA’s bidding and opposed common sense gun reform that would help Americans feel safe in their communities.
Tampa Bay Times: “Congressman Ron DeSantis told a crowd of pro-Trump supporters that he would have vetoed the Legislature’s Parkland gun bill if he were governor, according to the Sun Sentinel.
“‘I would have vetoed it,’ DeSantis, one of the leading Republican candidates for governor, briefly told a reporter Monday night after speaking to the Palm Beach County Donald Trump Club.”
Naples Daily News: “During his time in Congress, DeSantis has backed legislation that seeks to allow anyone with a concealed gun permit in one state to carry it in another and has co-sponsored numerous proposals backed by the NRA.”