Bills scheduled for hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY, March 7th, at 4 pm.

Contact Legislators NOW!

SB 616 - Courthouse carry, does NOT authorize carry in courthouses. This good bill authorizes courthouses to temporarily store those firearms carried lawfully while licensees are conducting business at courthouses.

On occasion, licensees must visit a prohibited place like a courthouse. Whether it be for jury duty or as a result of a summons or subpoena, these visits are often mandatory. This leaves the licensee with a dilemma - leave the firearm at home and be unarmed during the entire period, or leave the firearm in one's vehicle and risk it being stolen. Neither is acceptable.

The bill simply provides that a courthouse is still a prohibited place for carry, however a licensee may present his firearm to courthouse security personnel for temporary storage during the carrier's visit. Upon completion of the visit, the firearm is to be returned to the licensee.

FLORIDA CARRY ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS THIS GOOD BILL!

SB 646 - Open carrying, decriminalizes temporarily exposing one's firearm for licensees, and prohibits law enforcement from arresting licensed individuals who are lawfully carrying concealed and whose firearm becomes temporarily visible.

A serious problem since the 2011 gutting of SB 234, the original open carry bill, this bill also removes the ambiguous "brief exposure" language and replaces it with "temporarily and openly displayed". Coupled with the decriminalization and prohibiting arrest of licensees, the bill is a positive despite open carry remaining prohibited.

 

Please, take a few moments to ask the committee members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to support SB 616 and SB 646.

Remember that whether you contact the committee members either by email or by phone, to be courteous and respectful above all else. Be sure to keep your message brief, and thank them for their time.

In the subject line put: SUPPORT SB-646 & SB-616 in Senate Judiciary Committee

(Copy and Paste All email addresses into the "Send To" box)

steube.greg@flsenate.gov;

benacquisto.lizbeth@flsenate.gov;

bracy.randolph@flsenate.gov;

flores.anitere@flsenate.gov;

garcia.rene@flsenate.gov;

gibson.audrey@flsenate.gov;

mayfield.debbie@flsenate.gov;

powell.bobby@flsenate.gov;

thurston.perry@flsenate.gov

Sample Body:

Dear Senator,

Far too often when considering firearm related bills, opponents fail to recognize that licensees are a distinct demographic from felons/criminals. Between 1987 and 2012, over two million carry licenses were issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Licensing Division. During that period, only 6/1000ths of 1 percent (168) licenses were revoked for a crime involving a firearm.

 The Legislature placed its trust and faith in the licensing system, and in the Florida citizens who choose to lawfully carry. Licensees have not only met, but far exceeded those expectations. It is well beyond time the Legislature recognizes that statistically documented fact, and relieves unnecessary burdens on the licensee.

 Please support both SB 616 and 646.

 Respectfully,