Governor Ron DeSantis is intensifying his push to roll back Florida’s gun control measures implemented after the 2018 Parkland tragedy, positioning the state as a battleground between Second Amendment advocates and public safety proponents.
Top Takeaways
- DeSantis is campaigning to repeal post-Parkland gun control measures, including red flag laws and the age limit increase for firearm purchases.
- Florida is one of only four states that don’t allow open carry, which DeSantis views as undermining its “Free State” reputation.
- Legislative leaders, despite Republican supermajorities, have shown hesitancy to fully embrace DeSantis’ gun rights expansion agenda.
- Democrats warn that repealing safety measures breaks promises to the Parkland community and could endanger law enforcement.
- The governor successfully enacted permitless concealed carry in 2023 and views these next steps as fulfilling constitutional obligations.
DeSantis Challenges Florida’s Gun Control Framework
Despite Florida’s reputation as a conservative stronghold, Governor Ron DeSantis argues the state has fallen behind in protecting Second Amendment rights. The governor has set his sights on repealing gun safety measures enacted after the 2018 Parkland school shooting, particularly targeting red flag laws that allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed dangerous and the law raising the minimum age for gun purchases 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.
Florida’s position as one of only four states prohibiting open carry particularly frustrates the governor and Second Amendment advocates. This restriction, combined with the post-Parkland measures, has created what DeSantis describes as an unnecessary barrier to Floridians fully exercising their constitutional rights. The governor’s agenda includes not just repealing these measures but potentially establishing open carry in Florida, following his 2023 success in implementing permitless concealed carry.
Legislative Resistance Despite Republican Control
What makes DeSantis’ campaign particularly notable is that it comes despite Florida’s Republican supermajority in the legislature. Gun rights advocates express frustration that even with conservative control, Florida has not embraced Second Amendment rights as fully as other Republican-led states.
“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.
House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton have expressed skepticism about the necessity of open carry, though they’ve questioned the constitutionality of red flag laws. This hesitancy from legislative leadership could present obstacles to DeSantis’ agenda, despite his influence within the party. The Florida Legislature remains in session until May 2, 2025, providing time for these proposals to advance or stall.
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
Democratic Opposition and Safety Concerns
Democratic lawmakers have mounted strong opposition to DeSantis’ proposed changes, arguing they would undermine public safety and break promises made to the Parkland community. They have warned also against following the example of states like Texas that have expanded gun rights significantly.
“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.
Several alternative gun-related proposals are also under consideration in the Florida Legislature, including bills to repeal local firearm regulation preemption, establish responsible gun ownership requirements, and define and ban assault weapons. These Democrat-sponsored measures face long odds in the Republican-controlled legislature but represent the opposing vision for gun regulation in the state.
DeSantis’ Broader Agenda for Florida
The governor’s gun rights campaign comes alongside other conservative policy initiatives, including property insurance reform, tax cuts, and fiscal management. DeSantis has proposed eliminating property taxes and plans a constitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot to protect homeowners, part of his broader vision for Florida as a model conservative state. He has criticized the current amendment process, citing concerns about petition fraud.
This gun rights initiative represents a significant test of DeSantis’ legislative influence and his ability to reshape Florida’s approach to the Second Amendment. With the legislative session continuing for several more weeks, all eyes will be on Tallahassee to see whether the governor can convince reluctant Republican legislators to embrace his vision for expanded gun rights or if the post-Parkland safety measures will remain intact despite his objections.
