July 2nd 2023.
On Saturday, Florida's new permitless carry law went into effect, continuing a disturbing trend across the country. The law marks the 26th state to have such laws on the books, making America quickly become a nation of mass shootings. According to CBS News, those who choose to conceal carry their firearms are no longer required to have a permit to do so nor are they required to take any instructional course. However, open carry is not part of Florida's gun laws, thus still not allowing the concealment of weapons in public places such as airports, schools, stores, or other locations where guns are restricted or outright banned.
In order to legally carry a firearm, gun owners must pass a background check, be US residents, and be permanent residents of Florida. They also cannot be unlawful users or addicted to controlled substances, and cannot have any felony charges, misdemeanor charges, or injunctions.
The influx of increasingly lax gun laws began in 2022 when the Supreme Court expanded the purview of the Second Amendment. When asked their opinions on the laws, members of The National African American Gun Association were split. Tracy Brown, a member of the organization, expressed the complexity of the issue for Black people: “It means that more women will have the opportunity to get firearms in the interest of self-defense and protecting themselves. But you know, it’s such a complicated issue, especially for Black people…There are a lot of very unhealthy perspectives held by those who typify the gun-owning population in this country.”
The police are also uneasy with the new law, as they fear it may lead to an increase in officer-involved shootings. Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez told CBS News that there could be a misunderstanding between the community and law enforcement in terms of the role of firearms in certain situations. Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez also expressed his concern, saying that a regular dispute can now potentially rise into something more serious due to people potentially being armed.
It's clear that the permitless carry laws bring with them a risk of potential danger, and the consequences of them need to be taken into consideration.
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