Republican Reps. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) and Entire Democratic Delegation Join Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Mayors in Opposing Concealed Carry Reciprocity
Reckless Concealed Carry Reciprocity Legislation Would Undermine State Gun Laws, Make it Easy for People With Dangerous Histories and No Training to Carry Hidden, Loaded Handguns in Public; Everytown Interactive Map Shows How it Would Make Florida Less Safe
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement after Florida’s Democratic delegation and Republican Reps. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) voted against H.R. 38, the disastrous “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017,” which passed in the House of Representatives yesterday.
Concealed carry reciprocity would force each state to accept the concealed carry standards of every other state, including states with weaker standards, or no standards at all. In Florida, a person must complete firearm safety training and have live fire experience in order to carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public. Florida also blocks abusive dating partners and people with violent misdemeanor convictions from carrying concealed handguns in public. But “concealed carry reciprocity” would force Florida to recognize the concealed carry standards of every other state, even those that don’t have similar public safety standards in place.
STATEMENT FROM GAY VALIMONT, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE FLORIDA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“I am thrilled about the bipartisan opposition to ‘concealed carry reciprocity.’ This bill would gut gun violence prevention laws that Florida has enacted and make our communities less safe. Our attention now turns to the Senate, where we hope elected officials will listen to the law enforcement officials, prosecutors and mayors who oppose this dangerous policy.”
From our nation’s law enforcement community to mayors, opposition to concealed carry reciprocity is widespread. In October, a group of 17 attorneys general released a letter opposing the policy. The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, which includes many of the nation’s largest law enforcement organizations, and the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors have also opposed concealed carry reciprocity. A few weeks ago, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys wrote a letter to Congress urging them to oppose “concealed carry reciprocity.”
Additionally, a Pew survey released in June found that 81 percent of Americans oppose allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Concealed carry reciprocity would force states to allow concealed carry by many people with no permit.