The Republican-dominated Legislature might not have the votes yet for Gov. Ron DeSantis to push for a major change in Florida gun laws during a special legislative session this month.
DeSantis reaffirmed Tuesday during an appearance in Fort Myers Beach that he expects to eventually sign into law a proposal known as 鈥渃onstitutional carry,鈥� but he wouldn鈥檛 put a timeline on when that could occur.
鈥淚n terms of when? You know, I don鈥檛 know. The Legislature has got to pass it,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淚 mean, I鈥檝e said for years I would sign. I don鈥檛 know if they have the votes now. But I know that this is something that a lot of people are going to be looking at as we go forward into this next election.鈥�
DeSantis, who is running for re-election this year, said Friday he expects to sign such a measure into law before he leaves office.
Under current law, people who want to carry guns must get concealed weapons licenses from the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Constitutional carry would allow people to carry guns without the licenses.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democratic candidate for governor, oversees the licensing process. DeSantis contended that the 鈥渓icensing scheme鈥� allows 鈥減eople that want to take away your license, these officials, they can do that.鈥� But Fried issued a statement Friday that called DeSantis鈥� stance on constitutional carry 鈥渁bsurd political pandering from the governor of a state that has experienced some of the worst mass shootings in our country鈥檚 history.鈥�
As of April 30, Florida had about 2.52 million concealed weapons license holders. Lawmakers will start a special session May 23 that has been called to address property insurance issues.
