Florida Bill Would Allow Hidden Guns For All In Times Of Turmoil, Widespread Panic [View all]

Source: The Raw Story

Over the objections of the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida House has passed a bill that would allow all gun owners to conceal their weapons in public during hurricane evacuations, toxic events, and riots.

The bill, HB 209, which was strongly supported by the National Rifle Association, passed 80-36, according to the Miami Herald. Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, (R-Fort Myers), who sponsored the bill, called it a win for liberty.

“The bells of liberty are surely ringing throughout Florida today,” she said. “We are making sure that no Floridian in lawful possession of a firearm must leave it behind while evacuating in an officially declared state of emergency.”

However sheriffs from around the state opposed the bill, calling it “crazy.” “The bill is crazy, it’s absurd,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. Disregarding recent controversies over Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, Rep. Jimmie Smith, (R-Inverness), said concerns over the new law are overblown. “Every single time we’ve made changes to protect the Second Amendment rights of people, we hear about this wild wild west,” Smith said. “It’s going to be more dangerous. Shootings everywhere. And yet, we have one of the lowest rates of crime we’ve ever been at.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/12/florida-bill-would-allow-hidden-guns-for-all-in-times-of-turmoil-widespread-panic/