Guns

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday said people being able to openly carry guns is “the law of the state,” after a panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal last week ruled that a longstanding ban was unconstitutional.

In a major decision, a state appeals court ruled on Wednesday that Florida’s ban on openly carrying guns is unconstitutional.

Gov. Ron DeSantis made the statement during a news conference in Plant City to mark the start of sales tax exemptions through the end of the year on hunting, fishing and camping equipment.

If the Senate does not take up the bill, this would be the third year in a row that the House has approved such measures with the Senate not passing them.

A federal appeals court next month will hear arguments in the National Rifle Association’s constitutional challenge to a Florida law that prevents people under age 21 from purchasing rifles and other long guns.

Citing gun restrictions dating to the Reconstruction era, a federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a 2018 Florida law that prevents sales of rifles and other long guns to people under age 21.

Calling the proposal an effort to “remove the government permission slip,” House Speaker Paul Renner on Monday announced legislation that would allow people to carry concealed weapons without licenses.