A new bill to allow concealed guns in public without a permit is being met with opposition from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
HB 209, a National Rifle Association-backed bill, would allow legal gun owners to conceal weapons without a concealed carry permit in a mandatory evacuation caused by a state of emergency. It passed the Florida House 80-36 Friday despite clear opposition by the Florida Sheriffs Association.
Local law enforcement has the authority to declare a state of emergency. In Alachua County, state of emergency evacuations have been declared for flooding in 2012 and drought conditions in 2006, among others.
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Sgt. Becky Butscher said the department supports the sheriffs association’s stance because “there’s no real clear boundaries” with the bill.
“It’s kind of a huge safety issue,” Butscher said. “You’ve got heightened emotions, weapons on top of it. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
State Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen sponsored the bill. Edward Metzger, her legislative aide, said it was sparked from concerns following Hurricane Katrina.
“Obviously this isn’t allowing anyone to break laws,” Metzger said. “It’s allowing them to evacuate.”
Supporters of the bill, like Florida Carry executive director Sean Caranna, said the current law prohibiting concealed carry without a permit violates residents’ rights.
“Taking away people’s right to bear arms when the state can’t come to protect you is a violation of the very core of the Second Amendment,” he said.
UF political science junior Cherie Bynum said the bill’s ambiguity can be a problem if people misunderstand its boundaries. For example, it’s unclear as to when the evacuation ends, and therefore when the law stops protecting those without permits.
At the same time, she said she can’t oppose it.
The 20-year-old member of UF Students for a Democratic Society said if anything should be reformed, it’s the “stand your ground” law.
“I’m not the biggest gun supporter in the world, but I do recognize it as a right that’s in our constitution,” she said.
[A version of this story ran on page 13 on 4/23/2014 under the headline "Emergency gun bill faces kickback"]
