Florida House passes constitutional carry gun bill

Continuing to quickly pass high-profile legislation, the House on Friday approved a measure that would allow Floridians to carry firearms without concealed-weapons licenses, which Republicans compared to a government “permission slip.” House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, touted the bill’s approval by telling reporters that Florida would be the 26th state to pass what he and other supporters call “constitutional carry,” a nod to Second Amendment rights. As the third week of the 60-day legislative session ended, the Republican-controlled House voted 76-32 to approve the bill (HB 543), with Democrats warning the measure would make Floridians less safe.