By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Florida anti-gunners are upset that state Attorney General James Uthmeier for reportedly asking an appeals court to “uphold a teenager’s right to carry a concealed weapon even after a Broward judge last year declared the ban constitutional,” according to the Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Interestingly, the reference to “teenager” applies to young adults, in the 18- to 20-year-old age group.
A source at Florida Carry told TGM via text message, “Our position has remained unchanged since 1987. The right to keep and bear arms is not a second-class right. If one is old enough to exercise one enumerated right, they are old enough to exercise all of them, including the right to keep and bear arms.”
But gun control proponents such as State Rep. Dan Daley (D-96th District) and Fred Guttenberg, described as a “gun reform advocate” by WPEC News (CBS12). Guttenberg’s daughter was killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
As noted by the Sun-Sentinel, Daley fumed that Uthmeier is placing conservative politics above state statute.’
The newspaper quoted him asserting “While our appointed Attorney General might not be aware, he does not have the authority to abandon a state law simply because he disagrees with it. I am calling on Governor DeSantis to intervene here. The Governor has previously removed duly elected state attorneys for far less — based solely on statements about enforcement discretion.”
Guttenberg also stated, “I am deeply disturbed by the Attorney General’s refusal to defend Florida’s concealed carry law for 18-to-21-year-olds. Laws like this exist to protect our communities and save lives.”
Published reports say the controversy “centers on a 1987 Florida law that prohibits concealed firearm possession for individuals aged 18 to 21.” The statute remains in effect, and Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor told reporters he will continue enforcing it, despite Uthmeier’s position.
Young adults enjoy “age of majority” rights for everything other than owning and carrying a gun. They can vote, join the military, get married, start a business, buy a house and enter into a contract. But in Florida, following the Parkland school shooting, Florida lawmakers hastily passed legislation raising the minimum age for purchasing a long gun to 21. The 1987 law prohibits concealed carry by young adults.
Meanwhile, WFLA News is reporting that some lawmakers in Tallahassee are pushing legislation to roll back the gun purchase prohibition.
House Bill 133 would restore the ability of young adults to purchase firearms. The bill is getting some support from another Parkland parent, according to the report. Ryan Petty, whose daughter died in the attack, reportedly stated, “It was premature in my mind to put gun control, to assume that gun control is going to be a solution to the problem. I think it’s done nothing to make our schools safer.”
State Rep. Tyler I. Sirois was quoted, “Should government diminish the rights of law-abiding people in response to criminals? Nothing in this bill changes our commitment or the resources we will dedicate to hardening our schools and school safety.”
