When we go for our jog along the St. Pete downtown waterfront, we want to feel safe. We want to be able to display our guns, out in the open, for all to see in case anyone gets the wrong idea because, you know, spandex. We want to see firearms hanging off of other good guys as well, given how so very effective they are(n't) at stopping violence.
State Sen. Don Gaetz (R—Niceville) and his son, State Rep. Matt Gaetz (R—Thanksdadville) are making that a reality with a pair of bills they introduced in their respective state legislative chambers this week that would make open carry legal for everyone who has a concealed carry permit.
The bill's House version easily cleared a preliminary hurdle Tuesday when it passed 8-4 despite criticism over potential safety and private property rights issues voiced by people from both major parties as well as spokespeople from the likes of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
"I can say that the statements from some of the shrillest voices that oppose the Second Amendment that this will lead to the wild, wild west are unfounded based on any review of the crime data and statistics maintained by the (U.S.) Department of Justice," Matt Gaetz said, according to the News Service of Florida, apparently not noticing that the states that have the highest crime rates also have some of the densest populations and states with open carry are generally a lil' more spread out and a tad less Florida-esque.
Those not so hot on the measure voiced strong concerns about the lack of safety provisions in the bill, including special training for all of those big, big men who want us all to know they're carrying a gun.
"What we're talking about is allowing people to walk down a street with a firearm in their hand — pointed down, not pointed at anyone but pointed down — they can lawfully walk past a bank, past a bar, past a school, not encased in a holster," said Rep. Dave Kerner, a Lake Worth Democrat who voted against the measure, according to NSF. "The right to carry a weapon irresponsibly is not a constitutionally protected right, and that is what this bill will do."
The bill's supporters, including a certain aggressive, well-oiled lobbying/intimidation machine that shall not be named, say open carry is the patriotic thing to do, and that any restrictions on the Second Amendment, which definitely wasn't created at least in part to protect slaveowners or anything, are unpatriotic.
Especially in Florida.
Because, like the gentle manatee, the majestic roseate spoonbill, the cabbage palm and the pristine water flooding out of our springs, guns are an integral part of our state's landscape; not a day should go by in Florida without seeing or hearing the emission of at least one firearm.
Whether it's at the grocery store, when a mother turns around for a few seconds to scan cereal cereal boxes and her toddler fumbles for the shiny object in her purse and somehow manages to disengage the safety, or outside your bank, when an unhinged customer uses the Second Amendment to fix a malfunctioning ATM.
Maybe someday, we'll even be able to traverse our local college campuses without fear of having the cops called on us because of the assault rifle that's slung over our shoulder, making a wonderful clanking sound with each of our steps as it bumps against the revolver in our back pocket. Floridians want to do that so bad! (Except: nah.) And lawmakers have answered the call, though it only would allow boring concealed weapons at postsecondary institutions, sure bet for stopping school shootings like that which occurred in Oregon last week (not exactly, tho).
What a time to be alive!
On the flip side, lawmakers advanced another bill that could limit backyard gun ranges in the state.
From the News Service of Florida:
The bill would prevent people from recreationally firing guns in areas with residential densities of one or more dwelling unit per acre. It would include some exemptions, including an exemption added Tuesday to make clear people would not be prosecuted for accidentally firing weapons.
Remember that one kid? Yeah, we do to.
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.