(Before we get into any firearm safety/trigger discipline brouhaha, the picture was taken at the S&W Firearms factory, and the hands you see are the assembler putting the 1911 together.) (There. That should settle THAT.) (I know how you all are.)

The speaker of the Florida House announced lawmakers had filed the bill this morning.

Florida lawmakers’ promise to introduce legislation allowing permitless concealed carry of firearms, called “Constitutional Carry” by proponents, has been met. At a Monday morning press briefing, House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) and other gathered lawmakers announced House Bill 543, which would allow weapons and firearms without a license for concealment.

The proposed bill was written by Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Lake City), with state Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) writing the companion legislation for the Florida Senate. Gov. Ron DeSantis said in December that he was committed to the legislation passing and urged state lawmakers to propose it.

Under the proposed bill, Floridians would no longer need to apply for a license for concealed carry. The state of Florida already allows firearm purchases for those 21 and older without need of state application, aside from federal requirements for background checks.

Should the bill pass, the regulation of concealed carry permits, handled by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, would end.

Don’t confuse this with the “open carry” bills that have passed in other states like Arizona. This is strictly a concealed weapon law…

…The bill’s provisions only allow for concealed carry of a firearm without permit, should it pass. Renner described the new legislation as important in an age of political division.

…Provisions of the proposed legislation also would remove the need for citizens to have concealed carry permits, allowing them to have the firearm without having to pay a fee or get a certificate for carrying a firearm.

…and still has plenty of restrictions attached to it. But for people like moi, who have been entirely too lazy to go get mine (and FL makes it SO easy for veterans), it’s a great start.

Here's the text for the prosed constitutional carry law.
Looks fairly straightforward. Just like the current concealed laws, you need to carry your ID when you are carrying. Still the moronic gun free zone stuff etc.. but it's a start..https://t.co/zOfbhlOhGh pic.twitter.com/ToJtUtcpHQ

— Frog Capital (@FrogNews) January 30, 2023

The host of restrictions includes the usual suspects – FELONS, schools, churches, government buildings, etc. – but has an interesting codicil about guests:

…As written, HB 543 does not allow felons or other Floridians who are blocked from possessing a firearm to carry one, or own one. It also allows nonresidents to have concealed weapons in the state if they meet the same requirements as Florida residents. Concealed weapons are still limited in certain locations.

That, plus not having to pay fees or request a permit led a friend of mine to ask a pretty pertinent question, in the name of traveling to states with CCW reciprocity.

Thank you, @Paul_Renner — but will there still be a provision to get one if we want, for use in reciprocal carry states?

— Amygator 🐊 *not an actual alligator (@AmyA1A) January 30, 2023

So far, the answer to that is, yes. It will still be available precisely for that reason.

During his inaugural address and repeatedly since Governor Ron DeSantis signaled he was ready to sign a bill if they sent him one. It sure looks like they took him at his word.

Let the over-the-top hysteria begin.

JFC, let's ignore that guns are the 2nd-leading cause of death among children and teens in FL.

187 Florida kids 0-19 died by guns in 2019.

Gun deaths cost FL taxpayers $875.9 million.

FL already has "Stand Your Ground" why TF does it need "constitutional carry"? https://t.co/rNYlRJuPsp pic.twitter.com/9ShXMNEViK

— Old School SciFi (@OldSchoolSciFi) January 30, 2023

Yeah. About that statistic. Every life lost is one too many, but Florida is the third most populated state in the country, right? Yeah?

Know where we are gun violence-wise? TWENTY-FIFTH. (And that’s from an anti-gun site.)

I wouldn’t doubt the majority of those “kids” who lost their lives did so in gang related shootings.

HB543 is an alarming permitless carry bill that would only exacerbate crime and violence. If passed, this legislation would allow anyone to openly carry guns in our communities, without any sort of background check. You can surely count me as a NO!https://t.co/jjMXtotBL2

— Johanna López (@JohannaForFL) January 30, 2023

“Without any sort of background check!” Like…criminals? Sweet cheeks. They already have them…

…In statements posted to the organization’s [Giffords Florida] Twitter account, they said “There is NOTHING safe about letting anyone and everyone carry loaded guns in crowded spaces, no questions asked” and that “Permitless carry means more guns in public spaces. It means fistfights would turn into gunfights.”

…and are known for not handling frustration well. Firefights erupt in gang encounters all the time. Those guns are illegal.

Florida requires 1200 hours of training to obtain a license to cut hair, 500 hours of training to obtain a massage therapist license, and 240 hrs of training to become a licensed manicurist. With permitless carry, the state will require 0 hrs of training to carry a gun in public. https://t.co/gtbqgP3bpg

— Logan Rubenstein (@loganrub_17) January 30, 2023

Histrionics. And not really knowledgeable about gun owners in general. When they buy a gun, they usually like to shoot their guns. When a person is buying a gun or ammunition for one, there is always another gun owner or enthusiast standing around ready to talk, help, or ask you where you shoot. It’s this whole community. For example, anytime the husband unit is in Lowe’s wearing the t-shirt of the local firearms store we patronize here, invariably somebody says, “Hey! Love those guys!” Or thumbs up, or, God forbid we’re in line. They all get talking shop while we wait.

It’s the rare person who timidly buys a firearm and never once fires it, less mind would then load it and put it in her purse, or in a holster on his hip.

So now we wait for the process to shake out, the howling to crescendo and then subside.

Then I can go shopping!

I’m delighted they got the ball rolling.