Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing to repeal Florida’s post-Parkland gun control measures despite opposition from lawmakers and safety advocates, declaring the state needs to strengthen Second Amendment protections.
Key Takeaways
- Governor DeSantis is advocating for the repeal of Florida’s “red flag” law and age restrictions on firearm purchases that were enacted after the 2018 Parkland shooting.
- Florida is one of only four states that does not allow open carry, a situation DeSantis seeks to change despite the Republican-controlled legislature’s hesitation.
- House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell opposes these changes, arguing they break promises made to Parkland families and could endanger law enforcement.
- DeSantis previously signed legislation in 2023 allowing permitless concealed carry, but believes Florida still “lags” behind other conservative states on gun rights.
- The Florida Legislature is in session until May 2, 2025, with multiple gun-related proposals under consideration from both sides of the debate.
DeSantis Challenges Post-Parkland Gun Restrictions
Governor Ron DeSantis is intensifying his push to roll back gun control measures enacted following the 2018 Parkland school shooting, arguing that Florida has fallen behind other conservative states in protecting Second Amendment rights. Despite Florida’s reputation as a “Free State” and conservative stronghold, DeSantis maintains the state has not done enough to safeguard gun ownership rights. His primary targets for repeal include the state’s “red flag” law, which allows courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed dangerous, and legislation raising the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 18 to 21.
“I can tell you that we, in spite of us saying we’re the Free State, in spite of us being like, ‘oh, we’re this Republican conservative bastion,’ we’ve definitely lagged on that issue,” DeSantis stated, highlighting what he sees as a constitutional inconsistency in Florida’s approach to gun rights.
Yes, we're with you! We need all pro-gun Patriots sounding the alarm and demanding their legislators repeal "Red Flag" gun confiscation laws and legalize Open Carry. >>> https://t.co/P8zxh2yN7X
— Florida Gun Rights (@FLGunRights) March 4, 2025
Legislative Hurdles and Opposition
Despite Republicans holding a supermajority in the Florida Legislature, DeSantis faces significant resistance to his gun rights agenda. House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton have expressed skepticism about the necessity of open carry laws, though they’ve questioned the constitutionality of red flag provisions. This hesitation from legislative leadership has frustrated Second Amendment advocates who expected faster action on gun rights with such a strong Republican majority in Tallahassee. The debate highlights growing tensions within the party over the balance between gun rights and public safety measures.
The ongoing legislative session, which continues until May 2, 2025, has several gun-related proposals under consideration. Democratic lawmakers have introduced bills seeking to maintain or enhance gun safety measures, including legislation that would establish responsible gun ownership requirements and ban assault weapons. Meanwhile, Republican representatives have filed bills supporting DeSantis’s vision to expand gun rights and repeal existing restrictions.
“It seems to me that we’re breaking our promise to the parents and the students of Parkland. (The changes) would be awful for our law enforcement. We absolutely want to keep them safe as they do their job. I was very troubled by his comments,” said House Democrat Leader Fentrice Driskell.
Florida’s Position Among Gun-Rights States
DeSantis has repeatedly highlighted that Florida is one of only four states that does not permit open carry of firearms, positioning this as evidence that the state lags in Second Amendment protections. This talking point has resonated with gun rights activists who view Florida’s restrictions as inconsistent with its conservative political identity. In 2023, DeSantis did sign legislation allowing permitless concealed carry, which eliminated the requirement for Floridians to obtain a government permit before carrying a concealed weapon, but he maintains this doesn’t go far enough.
“The free state of Florida has not exactly led the way on protecting Second Amendment rights. We need to be a strong Second Amendment state,” Governor DeSantis declared, signaling his determination to change Florida’s approach.
Opposition to DeSantis’s proposals comes from both Democratic lawmakers and safety advocates who believe the post-Parkland measures have enhanced public safety. Senator Shevrin Jones has been outspoken in his criticism, stating, “I think the governor is absolutely on the wrong side of history on this.” Critics argue that repealing these laws would dishonor the compromises made with the Parkland community and potentially increase risks to public safety and law enforcement officers who have operated under these provisions for nearly seven years.
