Florida may soon reclaim its “Gunshine State” moniker as Republican lawmakers introduce bills aimed at rolling back key gun restrictions enacted following the 2018 Parkland school shooting. These bills, if passed, would expand gun rights in the state by repealing the red flag law, lowering the age to purchase rifles and allowing open carry.
State Rep. Dr. Joel Rudman, a Republican and congressional candidate who’s running to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress, has filed legislation to repeal Florida’s red flag law and make open carry legal. Introduced after the Parkland tragedy, the red flag law allows courts to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others. Rudman, in a social media post, declared the measure a step toward restoring constitutional freedoms.
“My bill reiterates my commitment to freedom and to the Constitution,” Rudman wrote on social media.
Sen. Randy Fine, another Republican vying for Congress, is sponsoring a bill to lower the minimum age for rifle purchases from 21 to 18. The current age restriction was enacted as part of the Parkland reforms. Fine argues the age increase was inconsistent with other legal responsibilities and rights afforded to 18-year-olds.
“If you’re entrusted with a rifle to defend our country, you should also be able to purchase one,” Fine said in a statement reported by Fox 13.
The proposals have drawn predictable opposition from Democrats, including Rep. Anna Eskamani, who described them as “bad and dangerous policy.” She contended that Fine’s efforts are politically motivated by his congressional ambitions.
“I have no doubt that Mr. Fine… is trying to set himself to stand out with his conservative colleagues,” she told The Associated Press.
Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, however, expressed skepticism about the bills’ prospects. While the Florida House has previously advanced similar legislation, the state Senate has historically resisted measures like open carry.
“I’ve supported law enforcement my entire life,” Albritton said in a statement, adding that he opposes open carry initiatives. There is no evidence availabe online that shows whether law enforcement agencies in Florida supported or opposed the legislation, so his statement is meant to mislead and make people think police officers support stricter gun laws, therefor, his support for stricter gun laws is a vote of support for law enforcement.
The 2018 Parkland shooting, which left 17 dead and 17 injured, galvanized lawmakers to enact some of Florida’s most restrictive gun laws to date. Gun rights advocates, however, have since worked to the restrictive provisions, viewing them as an unconstitutional infringement on Second Amendment rights and where red flag laws are concerned, a policy ripe for abuse lacking due process and promoting false accusations.
Supporters of Rudman’s and Fine’s bills argue the changes would strengthen citizens’ ability to protect themselves.
“Floridians should never have to trade God-given freedoms for a politician’s empty promise of security,” Rudman said in his announcement of the bill.
While past efforts to roll back post-Parkland measures have stalled in the Senate, the upcoming legislative session in March will determine whether Florida takes another step toward expanding gun rights or maintains the status quo.
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