Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came out swinging in defense of the Second Amendment during his annual State of the State address Tuesday before the Legislature, declaring, “We need to be a strong Second Amendment state.”
Florida leads the way in licensed concealed carry, but in recent years, in the aftermath of the tragic 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, the state adopted some laws which DeSantis would like to see rolled back.
He also proposed offering a “Second Amendment Summer” sales tax “holiday” on the purchase of “firearms, ammo and accoutrements.”
“I know a lot of people in the state will appreciate that,” said DeSantis, a Republican who likely still has an eye on running one day for the presidency.
The governor’s full address may be watched here.
In remarks certain to make gun prohibitionists bristle, DeSantis told Sunshine State lawmakers in Tallahassee, “The free state of Florida has not exactly led the way on protecting Second Amendment rights. We have some of the more weak laws on the country compared to our other states who consider themselves conservative.
“I would ask you to protect people’s Second Amendment rights,” the governor said. “Look back in instances where legislation may have been passed in recent years, such as shifting the burden on red flag laws, such as taking away the right of young adults to purchase firearms, such as limiting somebody’s ability to both keep and to bear arms as our Constitution does.”
Following the Parkland school shooting, the state raised the minimum age for firearms purchasing to 21, which did not go over well with Second Amendment advocates who support the rights of young adults in the 18-20-year age group. The killer in Parkland was 19, and he used a rifle he personally purchased. The age restriction was signed into law by then-Gov. Rick Scott, who now serves in the U.S. Senate.
“We need to be a strong Second Amendment state,” DeSantis insisted. “I know many of you agree with it, and so let’s get some positive reforms done for the people of the State of Florida.”
According to the Crime Prevention Research Center’s annual report on concealed carry, Florida is the leader among five states with more than 1 million active concealed carry licenses. There are at least 2.46 million Florida license holders, not all of them state residents. Thousands of non-residents have obtained Florida licenses over the years because they are recognized in a number of states.
Florida is also one of 29 states which so far have adopted “Constitutional Carry” laws allowing people to carry sidearms without a permit.
Florida Politics is reporting that DeSantis wants to lower state spending, and he made a pitch for eliminating property taxes.
