Florida Elected Official Files Legislation to Lower Wait Period for Gun Sales
Jose Nino
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Florida elected officials are taking steps that could make it easier for people to purchase a firearm. A new bill would modify a waiting period law passed following the Parkland massacre to lower the waiting period for gun purchases.
Currently, any individual who wants to purchase a gun in Florida has to wait for at least three days and for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to conduct a background check. State Representative Joel Rudman submitted legislation for the 2024 legislative session that would change that.
“In today’s era with modern technology, you should be able to successfully complete a background check in three business days,” declared Rudman.
Florida’s law was modified in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, which allowed the state to take more than three days to complete background checks. Rudman claims that this new law has caused a multitude of problems at gun stores.
“We had dozens of law-abiding citizens whose background checks were taking up to two years to complete,” noted Rudman.
Florida Gun Owners director Luis Valdes took a harder line by calling on the legislature to scrap waiting periods.
“Ultimately we would like to see the repeal of waiting periods in their entirety because they have been proven time and time again they don’t reduce crime,” Valdes remarked.
Florida currently does not require individuals to obtain a concealed carry permit to carry a firearm.
The Florida House and Senate started considering bills at committee hearings throughout October. These Proposals won’t receive votes until the legislative session kicks off on January 9, 2024.
Florida was one of the leading pro-gun states in the nation before the Parkland mass shooting of 2018. However, its pro-gun reputation took a significant blow after then-Republican Governor Rick Scott signed a gun control package into law that consisted of several measures such as a bump stock prohibition, an increase in the age to purchase a firearm, and a red flag gun confiscation order.
Florida is currently ranked in 27th place according to Guns & Ammo magazine’s best states for gun owners rankings. The Sunshine state still has a lot of work to do on the pro-gun policy front. The passage of this legislation to reduce waiting periods is a good first start.
However, the energy that Luis Valdes manifested is what’s needed for Florida to assume its proper role as a leader on pro-gun policy. It’s simply unacceptable for Florida to continue having gun control legislation on the books.
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