By: José Niño

The Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida issued a resolution in favor of Constitutional Carry this week.

It read as follows:

WHEREAS, Florida, unlike many of the states, requires a permit for legally owned handguns tovbe carried outside of limited areas such as one’s home and vehicle; and

WHEREAS, criminals do not follow the law and the permit requirement disarms their victims; and

WHEREAS, based on evidence from our state and other states, a permit requirement does not make people safer; and

WHEREAS, Florida should join the growing number of states who recognize constitutional carry, meaning that the constitution is our permit to carry; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican National Hispanic of Florida supports HB 103 currently pending in the state legislature, in which anyone who legally possesses a handgun should be able to carry it, open or concealed, without a permit, while maintaining licensing as optional for reciprocity purposes. Upon passage of this Resolution, we urge all Republican legislators to support this legislation.”

Gunpowder Magazine reached out to Emily Nuñez, a legislative analyst for Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida, and Santiago Avila Jr., the Florida Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida, for comments on this pro-Constitutional Carry resolution.

Avila Jr. declared, “This is a no brainer. We are talking about a ‘Natural Right’ therefore the government has ZERO business regulating it.”

Nuñez stated, “The 2nd amendment is the most important amendment because it allows us to protect our freedom of speech, religion, and many other freedoms that make our country so great.”

The legislative analyst added, “I support constitutional carry legislation and hope that between the Republican majority in the house and senate, that we can get this great bill passed into law.”

If Florida passes Constitutional Carry, it will become the 22nd state in the nation to adopt this legislation.

The current partisan makeup of the Florida State Legislature consists of Republicans holding a 78 to 42 advantage in the State House and a 24 to 16 advantage in the State Senate. On paper, this should make passing Constitutional Carry easy. Republicans, we know, though, cannot always be relied on to faithfully pass pro-gun legislation.

In light of this, grassroots pressure will remain key in passing Constitutional Carry in the Sunshine State. When politicians feel the heat, they will eventually see the light.

José Niño is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Contact him via Facebook,Twitter, or email him at [email protected]. Get his e-book, The 10 Myths of Gun Control,here.