The Florida Legislature is steamrolling a bill (SB 150 and HB 543) to allow people to carry concealed weapons without permits.
But you still can’t carry one in government offices or schools. This bill will not require training on how to safely use a gun, or when it’s feasible to use one. Lots of lawsuits are coming from people who will defend their constitutional right to use a gun. Of course, you can’t carry one in a school, even though that is where guns have been used to kill children.
Of course, you can’t carry a gun in the state Capitol, either, because lawmakers who will pass this law are afraid of what could happen to them. But they have no regard for citizens who will now fear that the guy behind them in the supermarket check out line is carrying a .44 magnum. This will be good for gun manufacturers and especially funeral homes.
The ones I feel for the most are our law enforcement officers, who will have to face unlicensed citizens carrying hidden guns.
Jeffrey Dombeck, Boynton Beach
Permitless carry will expose Floridians to more random violence. It allows individuals with no training and no background check to carry a concealed weapon. It means more people who cannot control themselves can carry a gun.
Don’t expect the bill to fail. If your legislator is a Republican, they appear to be afraid of their own leadership and of Ron DeSantis. They are not representing their constituents.
Other Republican-backed legislation would give 18-year-olds the right to purchase rifles and automatic weapons rather than having to wait until age 21. This would repeal a law that was signed by Rick Scott after the Parkland tragedy.
Our representatives don’t care about safety. Please tell your legislators we need to disarm violent aggressive individuals. Do not give them access to guns or automatic weapons — concealed or otherwise.
Drew Martin, Lake Worth Beach
It is hard to believe that Florida is a state that will soon allow permitless carrying of guns. Yet it wants to ban books, anything related to critical race theory, diversity or inclusion from universities’ curricula, history, and pretty much free speech.
Barbara Converse, Boca Raton
The daily barrage of hate-filled comments regarding Florida Gov. DeSantis is nauseating. Whining and crying do not accomplish anything. Take action — move.
Sherry Wipplinger, Fort Lauderdale
What a great editorial you wrote about how dangerous Gov. Ron DeSantis is becoming. I have watched him from afar and keep marveling at how much he’s getting away with, and Floridians seem to just sit back and take it.
He is a sophisticated version of Trump. The people of Florida need to wake up before it is too late or he will be unleashed upon the rest of the country. Your essay appeared in my newspaper, The Arizona Daily Star, as I live in Tucson. When I get old enough, I might consider moving to Florida. I’m only 81.
Charles R. “Butch” Farabee, Tucson, Ariz.
It’s time for us to get our bankruptcy protection rights back and our student loans cancelled by executive order. President Biden strung us along with a false student loan cancellation program. Our own lives are worth far more than the financial gain of the predatory student loan scammers. We deserve our bankruptcy rights restored. Support our efforts by going to Student Loan Justice.org. Together with your help, we can gain a long overdue victory.
Joanna L. Kearns, Plantation
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