Just One Week Following Nashville School Shooting, Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Dangerous Permitless Carry Legislation; Florida Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond

Governor DeSantis Signed the Bill into Law this Morning Behind Closed Doors Putting on Full Display the lack of transparency and respect the Governor has for Floridians

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statements after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the permitless carry bill into law this morning behind closed doors., This signing comes one week after the mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville Tennessee, where three children and three adults were shot and killed. Recent polling shows that 77 percent of Floridians oppose permitless carry which allows people to carry concealed, loaded handguns in public without a permit, criminal history check, or safety training.

“Governor DeSantis just made it clear he cares more about pleasing the gun lobby than protecting the people of Florida,” said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety. It speaks volumes that the Governor signed this bill behind closed doors — he knows the clear majority of Florida voters, including Republicans, favor high standards for carrying a hidden gun.” 

“Shame on Governor DeSantis for signing permitless carry into law, putting the gun industry ahead of Floridians’ safety,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Florida voters and public safety officials have made it clear that this dangerous policy has no place in their state and our grassroots army of gun safety advocates and survivors will be here every step of the way to hold him accountable for the violence he’s enabling.”

“Governor DeSantis wastes no time speedily signing a bill into law that will immediately decrease public safety in our state,” said Gay Valimont, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We already live in fear in this state – this will blow the door right open for a staggering increase in gun violence. We will continue to hold Governor DeSantis accountable as he uses our state as a vehicle to pacify gun extremists ahead of the presidential election.” 

“Today, Governor DeSantis has sunk even lower than we’ve come to expect from a politician who takes marching orders from the gun lobby,” said Alexis Dorman, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Students Demand Action. “He had to sign this dangerous bill behind closed doors because he knows putting his own political ambitions over the lives of young people is a bad look. But, we won’t let this deter us. We will never stop fighting for our safety and we will continue to demand better from the leaders elected to protect us.” 

Permitless carry will allow people to carry concealed, loaded handguns in public without a permit, criminal history check, or safety training, dismantling Florida’s system of responsible gun ownership. New research has also revealed that road rage shootings are at the highest level since 2018 and that states with permitless carry have by far the highest rate of road rage shootings with injuries or deaths. In fact, permitless carry states have nearly triple the rate of road rage shooting victimization than those states with the most protective standards. Florida already has the 30th highest gun death rate in the country, with 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people, and this bill will only further jeopardize the safety and lives of Floridians.

Because Florida does not require background checks on unlicensed firearm sales, someone can buy a gun online with no background check — the permit may be the only background check a person ever receives. Permitless carry takes away a vital tool from law enforcement to ensure a person carrying a gun in public isn’t a criminal with a dangerous history. Law enforcement across the country, including in Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, and South Carolina have been vocal opponents of permitless carry legislation. In an average year over 2,900 people are killed by guns in Florida, and over 5,200 more are shot and wounded. Gun violence costs Florida $40.3 billion each year, of which $875.9 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Florida is available here.

Just One Week Following Nashville School Shooting, Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Dangerous Permitless Carry Legislation; Florida Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond

Governor DeSantis Signed the Bill into Law this Morning Behind Closed Doors

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statements after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the permitless carry bill into law this morning behind closed doors., This signing comes one week after the mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville Tennessee, where three children and three adults were shot and killed. Recent polling shows that 77 percent of Floridians oppose permitless carry which allows people to carry concealed, loaded handguns in public without a permit, criminal history check, or safety training.

“Governor DeSantis just made it clear he cares more about pleasing the gun lobby than protecting the people of Florida,” said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety. It speaks volumes that the Governor signed this bill behind closed doors — he knows the clear majority of Florida voters, including Republicans, favor high standards for carrying a hidden gun.” 

“Shame on Governor Ron DeSantis for signing permitless carry into law, putting gun industry profits ahead of Floridians’ safety,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Florida voters and public safety officials oppose this dangerous policy. Our grassroots army of gun safety advocates and survivors will be here every step of the way to hold him accountable for the violence he’s enabling.”

“Governor DeSantis wastes no time speedily signing a bill into law that will immediately decrease public safety in our state,” said Gay Valimont, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We already live in fear in this state – this will blow the door right open for a staggering increase in gun violence. We will continue to hold Governor DeSantis accountable as he uses our state as a vehicle to pacify gun extremists ahead of the presidential election.” 

“Today, Governor DeSantis has sunk even lower than we’ve come to expect from a politician who takes marching orders from the gun lobby,” said Alexis Dorman, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Students Demand Action. “He had to sign this dangerous bill behind closed doors because he knows putting his own political ambitions over the lives of young people is a bad look. But, we won’t let this deter us. We will never stop fighting for our safety and we will continue to demand better from the leaders elected to protect us.” 

Permitless carry will allow people to carry concealed, loaded handguns in public without a permit, criminal history check, or safety training, dismantling Florida’s system of responsible gun ownership. New research has also revealed that road rage shootings are at the highest level since 2018 and that states with permitless carry have by far the highest rate of road rage shootings with injuries or deaths. In fact, permitless carry states have nearly triple the rate of road rage shooting victimization than those states with the most protective standards. Florida already has the 30th highest gun death rate in the country, with 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people, and this bill will only further jeopardize the safety and lives of Floridians.

Because Florida does not require background checks on unlicensed firearm sales, someone can buy a gun online with no background check — the permit may be the only background check a person ever receives. Permitless carry takes away a vital tool from law enforcement to ensure a person carrying a gun in public isn’t a criminal with a dangerous history. Law enforcement across the country, including in Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, and South Carolina have been vocal opponents of permitless carry legislation. In an average year over 2,900 people are killed by guns in Florida, and over 5,200 more are shot and wounded. Gun violence costs Florida $40.3 billion each year, of which $875.9 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Florida is available here.