TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida gun rights advocates are mobilizing towards what they describe as a stealth effort by Republican lawmakers to impose new restrictions on open carry, weeks after an appellate courtroom ruling overturned the state’s decades-old ban on overtly displaying firearms.
Govt Director of Florida Gun Rights Logan Edge informed Florida’s Voice his group is “going full steam forward” to generate opposition in the course of the pre-session committee weeks after listening to “rumblings” from legislators and state lawyer places of work about efforts to restrict the courtroom’s choice.
“It’s the Republicans [who are seeking restrictions],” Edge stated, noting he was “not stunned within the slightest” given the legislature’s historical past of combating open carry, together with excluding it from the 2023 constitutional carry invoice.
Gun teams unite towards restrictions
The controversy started when an appellate courtroom lately discovered Florida’s 1987 ban on open carry to be unconstitutional, a call that was rapidly accepted as the brand new legislation by the state lawyer basic’s workplace. Main Second Modification teams have issued a joint letter to counter any legislative efforts to stroll again the ruling.
“Gun house owners in Florida gained a serious victory when the courtroom dominated the ban on Open Carry unconstitutional. Legislators must be warned that persevering with to stab gun house owners within the again is not going to be tolerated,” Nationwide Affiliation for Gun Rights Political Director Dustin Curtis added within the letter.
Edge stated the teams are planning to ship “tens of 1000’s of petitions” to legislative places of work earlier than the top of the interim committee weeks to show unified public opposition.
“We’re going to indicate the Tallahassee swamp that gun house owners are all united on this, and we’re ready to combat again about any form of infringement,” Edge stated.
The Argument for Open Carry
Edge defined that the precise to overtly carry is a matter of constitutional proper, security, and luxury, notably in a sizzling local weather like Florida’s. In line with Edge:
- Ease of entry: Open carry offers some people with simpler entry to their firearm ought to they should use it in self-defense.
- Consolation: For some, open carry is solely extra snug than concealing a weapon, which may be tough or unimaginable when sporting lighter garments or skilled apparel with no coat.
- Constitutional proper: Edge famous that banning open carry put Florida within the firm of among the most restrictive states within the nation, reminiscent of Illinois and New York.
“As someone that lives in Florida, as a result of it’s the Free State of Florida, you realize, I got here down right here throughout COVID, like many others, I don’t need to be in the identical universe as Illinois or New York or California on something, particularly one thing like gun rights,” Edge stated.
Legislation enforcement opposition and particular Pursuits
Edge believes the stress for brand new restrictions is pushed by particular pursuits, notably legislation enforcement opposition.
- He particularly referenced Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd who, regardless of being a well-liked determine and a powerful supporter of the Second Modification, has publicly voiced his choice for hid carry, arguing that open carry sacrifices a tactical benefit and will make the gun proprietor a goal.
- Edge additionally talked about previous Republican considerations concerning the impression on tourism and companies like Disney, although he dismissed this as irrelevant, stating that personal companies stay entitled to bar weapons on their property, a difficulty distinct from the statewide ban.
- He famous that some legislators, together with Sen. Ben Albritton, are already in talks about potential restrictions on sure firearms, reminiscent of lengthy weapons.
The Florida Gun Rights group has requested the general public to signal a petition defending open carry in Florida.,
🚨Breaking Information: Our Govt Director Logan Edge is listening to from his conferences in Tallahassee {that a} invoice is coming to limit the current Open Carry courtroom victory. Signal our petition beneath to defend Open Carry. https://t.co/4uA6P9FUfp pic.twitter.com/PBALzoyGe9
— Florida Gun Rights (@FLGunRights) October 8, 2025
The Florida Gun Rights group additionally issued press launch Thursday to “sustain the stress.”
“With midterms quick approaching, the Tallahassee swamp should know that attempting to weaken the current victories Floridians gained within the courts comes with a steep political worth,” the group stated. “Subsequent week, FLGR will dive deeper into the depths of the Tallahassee swamp, taking extra important conferences to unearth intel on this potential anti-Open Carry invoice.”
