Florida bill to ban luggage sparks opposition in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Florida. – Too extreme, too weak – or just right? On Thursday, a heated debate broke out over a bill to ban transportation in Florida.

Supporters from all sides clashed in Tallahassee as lawmakers again pushed for a controversial loosening of the state’s gun laws.

At a small church near the State Capitol, more than 100 people gathered with Moms Demand Action to denounce the GOP-backed bill. This allows legitimate gun owners to covertly carry them in the state without the currently required permit and training.

“We need our legislators to understand that unauthorized wear does not make anyone safer,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Letting more guns in more places without question and without training will lead to more gun violence.”

The group then headed to the Capitol, chanting and urging lawmakers to vote down the bill, which also contains numerous efforts to improve school safety. This includes things like improving the skills of law enforcement officers and improving the exchange of threats between Florida schools.

The law became one of the most controversial measures of the year. Republicans have repeatedly said they are trying to eliminate the government’s permission to access the Second Amendment.

However, a new poll by the University of North Florida shows registered voters in Florida don’t want change. About 77% of those polled said they were categorically or partially against it. Supported only 21%.

There is even controversy among supporters of unauthorized wearing. Several people at a meeting of the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Thursday called for the bill to be upgraded to a fully open transfer. The governor said he would support it, but the leaders of the House of Representatives of the Republican Party and the Senate are not present at the moment.

“The question is, if the governor can’t convince a very friendly legislature to add an open carry to this bill, what do we think he’s going to do in trying to convince Congress to do something if he becomes president?” Matt Collins, a resident of Central Florida, addressed the committee. “Unless open carry is added to this bill, it will show the political powerlessness of a portion of Governor DeSantis.”

However, senators approved the measure, and one Republican, Senator Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, joined the Democrats in opposition.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Jay Collins, R-Tampa, also showed no interest in changing the bill when we asked him about adding an open carry provision shortly after the meeting.

“We are taking a monumental step in codifying our Second Amendment rights,” Collins said. “That’s what we’re focusing on – getting back the God-given, constitutionally enshrined rights to self-defense.”

The Senate version of the bill must go to the upper house as a whole. The bill of the House of Representatives is also ready for discussion and debate.

Given that the Republican Party has overwhelming majorities in both houses, it’s likely that the politics will reach DeSantis. Meanwhile, opponents plan to fight back in the coming weeks. Parkland students from March For Our Lives have scheduled a rally in Tallahassee for March 22nd.