USCCA Letter to Governor DeSantis and Members of the Florida Legislature
March 23, 2023
Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Office of House Speaker Paul Renner
State of Florida
420 The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Office of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo
State of Florida
409 The Capitol
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Office of Senate Majority Leader Ben Albritton
State of Florida
330 Senate Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Dear Governor DeSantis and Members of the Florida Legislature,
On behalf of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), which is today the largest, fastest-growing self-defense association in the country dedicated to responsible gun owners, I am writing to support the passage of constitutional carry (House Bill 543 and Senate Bill 150) in this state legislative session. This legislation would allow responsibly armed residents to carry a concealed handgun without first having to obtain a permit and would make Florida the 26th state to pass a constitutional carry law.
With more than 70,000 members in Florida alone, and over 725,000 members nationwide, as well as dozens of trained firearms instructors across the state, the USCCA has witnessed firsthand the self-defense awakening among the American people that has taken place in recent years. Millions of Americans, including many in Florida from all walks of life, have chosen to become their family’s first line of defense by purchasing a firearm because they know that our police cannot be everywhere all the time.
Simply put, these law-abiding American gun owners should not have to ask the government’s permission, or face additional fees or red tape, in order to exercise a constitutional right.
The tired chorus from opponents of this legislation that empowering more responsible gun owners to carry a concealed weapon will somehow increase violent crime, make it easier for criminals to obtain a firearm or create a “cowboy culture” is not grounded in data or reality.
At the USCCA, we have seen record demand in Florida over the last several years for our education and training classes because responsible gun owners know education and training is fundamental to their ability to protect. They don’t need a government mandate to force them to do that. Our members are already doing it because they know that enjoying and exercising a right does not eliminate personal responsibility.
The anti-gun lobby would have people believe that a government permit somehow automatically makes a person responsible. It does not. Law-abiding gun owners know that their requirement to be responsible with a firearm is not linked to a permit or even to required training because it is a responsibility that is never-ending. They also know that situational awareness and conflict avoidance are the keys to effective self-defense.
That is why at the USCCA we teach our members to avoid danger if you can and defend only if you must.
When it comes to keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals, as you know, all gun purchases from federally licensed dealers are already subject to federal background checks. This new law would not change that. The data also shows that offenders who use firearms during a crime obtain it illegally 90 percent of the time according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. To provide a recent example, the 19-year-old man who allegedly murdered three people in Orlando had a lengthy criminal record, including gun charges. Even if permitless carry had already been in effect, it would have been equally illegal for him to possess that gun.
In short, there have been a range of misleading attacks against constitutional carry by the anti-gun lobby, as well as some in the media who may simply need to be better educated about what this legislation would and would not do. However, what I can tell you firsthand is that passage of constitutional carry is a top priority for our over 70,000 members in Florida who want nothing more than to protect themselves and their loved ones. We need more laws that support responsibly armed Americans and their right to protect, instead of more anti-gun laws that ultimately only empower criminals.
The USCCA is proud to support constitutional carry and we hope that you will make its passage a priority in the weeks ahead. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tim Schmidt
Chairman & Co-Founder
U.S. Concealed Carry Association
