Open Carry in FL...dead for this year!

[Lakeland Man]

Well, the House bill in FL was amended to match the Senate bill so open carry is dead for this session.

Why? This link from Ammoland Blog should explain.

Response To Rude Open Carry Blogger

Basically, it says that because of the actions of a few rude open carry supporters, the measure was gutted.

I don't have any problems with open carry. I, for one, was hoping that the measure would pass as originally written. It would have given me a choice. In all my correspondence with my elected officials, I was polite, and stated my support for the bill. However some people were rude and demanding. They were the ones who cost us a victory. I have said it before...one step at a time. I understand how you feel about the 2nd amendment, but LOUDLY proclaiming and complaining about your rights being violated doesn't help. Work towards your goal. The antis have been doing it for decades and they almost succeeded. We need to take a page from their playbook and make incremental steps to get what we want. The majority of citizens in this country are not gun owners. They simply don't understand or care about 2A.

Now I realize that some of you will disagree with this post. NavyLT (who I have come to respect) is one I expect to hear from on this.

Let the discussion begin!

 

[rudiepop]

I agree, you have to play the game better than your opponent to win and unfortunately this is a control game to some of the anti gunners. Be nice if some of the people on our side would just learn to keep their pie hole shut.

 

[B2Tall]

Surprisingly enough I heard that quite a few CCers and CC groups were among the anti-OC lobby. Their reasoning was "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", referring to existing FL gun regulations that make it pretty easy for law-abiding citizens to carry (albeit concealed). Their fear was that OCing would cause such uneasiness that many businesses who don't care at this point would post "No Guns" signs if OC was allowed and thereby infringing on CCers as well. There was also talk that anti-gunners would push a bill to make ignoring such signs a felony (now you only get into trouble if you refuse a request to leave private property).

It's an interesting argument but I don't agree with it. If people aren't comfortable with it it's because they're not used to it...yet. Look at the states that allow OC - most of them have large rural populations and/or have a long history of gun culture (hunting popularity, etc.). Given time, folks in Florida will get used to it as well. Something tells me that most of the objections will come from urban areas like Dade/Broward, Tampa, Daytona. I don't think people in places like Ocala, Gainesville, or the Panhandle would be overly concerned with OCing.

 

[Lakeland Man]

I also agree that, in time, Floridians will get used to OC. And the concerns of the CC"ers is valid as well. IMHO the thing to do is take small steps. Gain what ground we can but dont attempt to get everything in one shot.

The legislation in FL wasn't about OC. It was about decriminalizing accidental exposure. It was thought that the best way to do that was to allow OC for CWL holders. It might have worked too. But then some people HAD to rock the boat!

We will try again next year. I only hope we have learned something from this year.

Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

BTW, i sent this from my phone using the new Android app.

 

[SGB]

The legislation in FL wasn't about OC.

 

[handgonnetoter]

What a bunch of crap. I really don't see why people have a problem with OC. I CC and I don't have a problem with it, but then again, I don't pee my panties at the sight of a firearm either.

 

[Lakeland Man]

If you're going to attempt to refute me, I would ask that you use my quotes IN context.

The legislation in FL wasn't about OC. It was about decriminalizing accidental exposure. It was thought that the best way to do that was to allow OC for CWL holders.

The OC crowd grabbed this issue and tried to make it their own. If you are trying to get OC, it makes sense to try for OC, not OC for CWFL holders. Concealed means concealed. Open means open. The 2 don't go together, IMHO.

I think Marion is a very intelligent woman, but she didn't write or propose this legislation. What she says is her interpretation of it.

 

[SGB]

If you're going to attempt to refute me, I would ask that you use my quotes IN context.



The OC crowd grabbed this issue and tried to make it their own. If you are trying to get OC, it makes sense to try for OC, not OC for CWFL holders. Concealed means concealed. Open means open. The 2 don't go together, IMHO.

I think Marion is a very intelligent woman, but she didn't write or propose this legislation. What she says is her interpretation of it.

I didn't refute you, Marion's interview did. Of course you're free to believe what you want.

 

[Lakeland Man]

I stand by my statements.

The following is copied from another gun forum that is dedicated to florida. The title of this thread is "What the NRA really wanted"

Sen. Bogdanoff stated that it was “What the NRA really wanted” (to change the current conceal carry law that eliminated a possible misdemeanor charge for the inadvertent display of a concealed weapon).

She also stated that the Florida Retail Federation and Law Enforcement accepted her amendment by eliminating the “open carry” context of the bill.

As a Lifetime member of the NRA, all the e-mails/notices I received from the NRA did in fact reference that desire concerning LEO situations with inadvertent display of a concealed weapon.

We wanted a law that would provide protection to cover any and all types of inadvertent display of a concealed weapon; and the only way to accomplished that was through “open carry”.

Did the NRA emphasize in their communications this fact, that the only way to cover all scenarios was to have a pure open carry?

I did not see that, therefore IMHO I feel that Sen. Bogdanoff’s statement does reflect her understanding of what the NRA wanted, and not a stance of “this is what I want.’

So what did we learned from these events that could help us next time?

 

[SGB]

Political propaganda from a Rhino. :to_pick_ones_nose:

 

[Lakeland Man]

SGB, I think you and I need to agree to disagree.

The bottom line is that OC is dead for this year. The reason was overzealous OC advocates. Maybe next year. But I think that, without some kind of public awareness campaign, OC is years away in FL.

 

[SGB]

I agree we'll have to agree to disagree, I think the Florida Sheriffs association and the Retail Sales Association lobbying against the bill had a heck of a lot more to do with the failure of Open carry than did these alleged phone calls. Years away? Maybe, maybe not, we'll see next year. :sarcastic:

 

[walther380]

I've heard from many of my gun buddies that this bill is on the governors desk. Is this true? Could this bill still be alive and well? If you look at the status it is still moving thru the steps. Could some one clarify for me? Thanks

 

[Lakeland Man]

I've heard from many of my gun buddies that this bill is on the governors desk. Is this true? Could this bill still be alive and well? If you look at the status it is still moving thru the steps. Could some one clarify for me? Thanks

The bill IS on the Gov's desk, but the OC provision was removed. Now, it will no longer be a crime to "briefly" expose your weapon, whether intentional or not. Even if he doesn't sign it, it still becomes law on the 19th, unless he vetoes it.

 

[walther380]

Thats what I thought. I read that it was amended but after that I quit looking at the status. So as of today it's ok to inadvertently show your gun? Not that I will be careless with concealing. I will just feel better if the grip pops out when I exit my truck.

 

[Lakeland Man]

Yes. The key phrase is that the exposure must be brief and it cannot be done in anger or to intimidate. That means you can take your gun from your car and put it on in full view. The exposure, while intentional, is brief and not done in anger or to intimidate.

 

[Seeya]

Today is May 24, 2011. It should be law by now. comments welcome!

 

[Seeya]

Scott signed sb 234 today.