New Florida Bill 273 Allows Constitutional Carry

Florida State Representative Anthony Sabatini filed HB 273 last Tuesday, which would allow Floridians to carry concealed firearms for self-defense without a permit. News of the bill was met by pro-Second Amendment supporters with resounding support.

“I’m unapologetic about the Second Amendment.” - Rep. Anthony Sabatini

In the tweet where Sabatini announced this bill, he wrote, “Our Second Amendment right should not be determined by a government bureaucracy.” Something few politicians on either side of the aisle would publicly state. This is a refreshing change for the state after numerous anti-gun proposals including a suggestion for a gun registry that came just last month.

But given how Sabatini ran on a very pro-gun stance, and his previous push for campus carry this latest bill should come as no surprise.

The bill would allow anyone over the age of 18 to carry a firearm without a license and reduce the penalties for carrying a gun in certain restricted areas. These areas include college campuses, courthouses and legislative meetings. Previously, carrying a weapon in the aforementioned areas would be considered a third-degree felony, but HB 273 would reduce the charge to a second-degree misdemeanor.

This has an enormous impact, as it would prevent citizens from losing their Second Amendment rights if they accidentally carried their personal weapon into a prohibited area.

While a few local news station affiliates have already raised concerns about the bill, mentioning the Parkland shooting and background checks, as of today, no Democrat politicians have made an official statement on the bill. Though based on Democrat’s historical disdain for concealed carry in general, tweets condemning the bill should be hitting the net shortly.

Of course a few anti-gun so-called news outlets couldn’t resist the chance to make an ad hominem attack on Santini because of their hatred of firearms, gun-owners and anyone who supports the Second Amendment.

Firearms News reached out to Representative Sabatini for a quote on the bill and he summed it up as thus:

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“Constitutional carry is the only policy consistent with the Second Amendment.”

That sums up his stance pretty well. Hopefully Floridians can look forward to more pro-gun bills from Sabatini in the near future, and his push-back against the seemingly endless waves of anti-gun bills attacking the Second Amendment in Florida.