GIFFORDS Florida Blasts Senate Passage of Reckless Permitless Carry Bill
Legislation Heads to Governor’s Desk
Miami, FL — GIFFORDS Florida, the gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, condemned the passage of permitless carry legislation in the Florida Senate. This legislation would allow almost anyone to carry a gun in public without a background check, any training, or having ever fired a gun.
GIFFORDS Law Center Research Director, Kelly Drane, testified in the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee against this reckless legislation.
GIFFORDS is conducting a persuasive advertising campaign against this legislation that includes an ad in the Miami Herald, digital ads, and billboards.
GIFFORDS Florida Senior Advisor and former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell:
“The Florida legislature is failing Floridians. The passage of this legislation is a slap in the face to the mothers, fathers, and children in Florida who just want their families to be safe. Many families, like my own, immigrated to Florida searching for a safer place. That’s not the case anymore. Florida is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic and this legislation will only increase gun violence in our state.”
GIFFORDS Florida State Director Samantha Barrios:
“Today is a sad day for the state of Florida. Countless lives will be affected because of this reckless legislation. GIFFORDS Florida will continue to fight for ‘un futuro sin violencia’ and we won’t stop advocating for gun safety bills.”
Why Permitless Carry Is Bad for Florida:
- Studies show that weakening public carry laws is associated with a 13–15% increase in violent crime rates, as well as an 11% increase in rates of homicides committed with handguns.
- One recent study found that when states weakened their concealed carry laws and removed provisions like live fire training and violent misdemeanor prohibitions—both of which Florida currently has—they experienced a 22% increase in gun assaults and a 35% increase in gun homicides.
- The current law ensures that people with a history of violent or risky behavior cannot carry firearms in public places. Between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, 7,605 Florida residents with a disqualifying history were denied concealed carry permits. Permitless carry would strip these important provisions.
- The state of Florida requires 1,200 hours of training to obtain a license to cut hair, 500 hours of training to obtain a massage therapist license, and 240 hours of training to become a licensed manicurist. If Florida passes permitless carry, the state will require zero hours of training for people to carry a loaded firearm in public.
Floridians Oppose Permitless Carry:
- Recent polling by GIFFORDS and Global Strategy Group shows that over three quarters of Miami-Dade voters say gun violence (77%) was very important to their vote in November—more than inflation (75%), immigration (66%), or abortion (62%).
- Floridians, especially Hispanic voters, oppose permitless carry: 61% Floridians and 71% Hispanic voters oppose permitless carry, which Governor DeSantis has promised to pass.
- Over two-thirds of Miami-Dade voters oppose permitless carry (68%) with 60% of voters strongly opposing the policy.
- This opposition spans party registration and race. A majority of Republicans, DeSantis voters, gun owners (59%), and white voters (55%) oppose permitless carry.
- After hearing the policy would allow anyone who can legally purchase a firearm to carry a loaded gun publicly, along with examples of who those carriers would be, voters’ opposition grew by 12 points (68% to 80%) and strong opposition by 13 points (60% to 73%).
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