Citizens gun rights during local state of emergency would be restored under bill passed by House
A customer tries out a semi-automatic pistol at The Gun Store on Nov. 14, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by)
Update: A Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare representative said staff were caring for an undisclosed number of casualties.
'TMH is actively receiving and caring for patients related to an incident that has occurred at Florida State University. At this time, details are still unfolding, and we do not yet have specific information to share. However, we want to assure the community that our teams are fully mobilized and prepared to provide the highest level of care and support to all those affected,' a written statement says.
'We remain in close coordination with emergency responders and public safety officials. Out of respect for patient privacy and to ensure accurate information, we will provide updates as soon as they are available. We ask for your patience and compassion during this difficult time.'
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, meanwhile, posted on X that its officers were on the scene and would issue an update 'with more information as soon as possible.'
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A proposal that would prohibit local governments from suspending the sale of guns and ammunition during a declared state of emergency was approved in the Florida House on Wednesday.
The measure (HB 6025) sponsored by Brevard County Republicans Monique Miller and Debbie Mayfield, repeals current state law that prohibits the sale of firearms and ammunition during a local state of emergency. The bill would also repeal the prohibition banning anyone intentionally possessing a firearm in a public place during a local emergency.
South Florida Democratic Rep. Mike Gottlieb said that he had voted for the bill in an earlier committee meeting, but that upon reading the actual state statute that it would repeal (section 870.044) was now opposing it.
'What we're saying is that if there's a riot or public disturbance we're just going to let everybody sort of willy-nilly, without the controls that we have in place, get their firearms, and that's adding fuel to that riot,' he said. 'That's adding fuel to that fire.'
Gottlieb added that he believed it had 'wide-ranging implications that could endanger us in society.'
But Republicans said it was more than an appropriate change.
'When our communities are ripped by unrest or emergency, when the lights go out and the sirens grow louder and the sense of order is fading, that is precisely the moment when Floridians deserve the freedom to defend themselves, their children, their homes and their livelihoods,' said Seminole County Republican Rachel Plakon.
'When I came up here I promised my constituents that one of the most important things that I would do is I would fine laws that violate their constitutional rights, and I would get rid of them,' said Miller. 'This is one of the most egregious that I found.'
The measure passed 86-28, mostly along party lines.
The Senate version (SB 952) sponsored by Hernando County Republican Blaise Ingoglia has passed all of its committees and is awaiting a floor vote in that chamber.
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