TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As the debate over guns reignites following the deadly shooting at a school in Nashville, the issue will be front and center at the Florida legislature on Wednesday.


What You Need To Know

  • The State Senate is taking up the permitless carry bill, but likely will not vote on it Wednesday

  • The bill comes just days after the House gave its approval

  • Republicans say it eliminates the government red tape allowing Floridians to exercise their second amendment right

  • The bill would still require background checks and a minimum wait period to purchase a gun

  • RELATED: Florida House passes permitless carry bill

Six people died in the shooting at the Covenant School Monday. Three of them, just 9 years old.

Florida's Senate is now considering passing a bill that would allow any gunowner to carry a concealed weapon without a license. 

The bill comes just days after the House gave its approval.

Supporters say that will empower residents to protect themselves without government permission. The bill also expands Florida’s guardian program into private schools

“This is a big step in the State of Florida. This is a monumental codification of our right to bear arms, and it does fantastic thigns for our schools to keep them safe and take care of those things we love the very most — our children when we can’t be there with them," Sen. Jay Collins told Spectrum News.

Critics, meanwhile, decry permitless carry as wreckless.

They say more guns… in more hands… is NOT a solution.

In response…

One lawmaker is proposing that Republicans should allow permitless carry inside the capitol… if they indeed feel so safe around guns.

“I would really like to know what the concern or the fear is that if it’s okay for our family members to be out in public with people that are carrying without a permit, why are we not feeling safe with the same sort of provision inside the legislative chamber or in committee meetings?" Sen. Jason Pizzo said.

State Republicans maintain it eliminates the government red tape allowing Floridians to exercise their second amendment rights.

The bill would still require background checks and a minimum wait period to purchase a gun.

If made law, concealed training classes and a more detailed Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check would not be necessary.

And if passed, Florida would join 25 other states with permitless carry on their books.

Opponents are concerned the same legislators vying for the bill are the same ones who pushed for tighter gun law restrictions after the 2018 Parkland school shooting.

"This begs the question, why are we making it easier to carry guns but harder to vote? says State Rep. Lavon Bracy Davis, (D) Orlando. "Why are we having conversations about expanding gun laws instead of expanding Medicaid? Why is it that getting guns is so easy and getting books is so hard?”

Davis’ Republican counterpart says it is the right of Floridians and Americans to own a gun.

“When the Founding Fathers penned the second amendment, there is a reason that they did not include a permission slip from the government in that second amendment," says State Rep. John Snyder (R) Jupiter. "At the end of the day, my personal belief and what I hold dear is that I trust the people of the great state of Florida a whole lot more than I trust the government.”

A separate bill would lower the minimum wage to buy a gun from 21 to 18, reversing a change that was made after the Parkland shooting.

Last week, an amendment that would have allowed people to openly carry handguns in the state of Florida was withdrawn. The amendment was a proposed addition to CS/HB 543, known internally as the Public Safety bill.

The State Senate is taking up the permitless carry bill on Wednesday afternoon, but likely will not vote on it the same day.