Luis Valdes| Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Only three states fully prohibit the open carry of firearms by citizens, and I bet youd be surprised to hear Florida is among them. Yes, we frustratingly find ourselves in the company of New York and Illinois on this issue. And Republican leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, appear poised to keep it that way under the misnamed constitutional carry bill that is expected to pass this session.

Gun owners saw right through the faade when House Speaker Paul Renner threw a press conference at the end of January to celebrate introduction of the constitutional carry bill.

On the one hand, it does go a long way in restoring the rights of our residents and visitors alike to carry arms in public for self-defense without a permit. On the other hand, the bill falls short of every constitutional carry law in the country by quietly omitting the right to carry openly. So our leaders are trying to appease one side and fool the other.

I drove eight hours to testify at a hearing earlier this month on the current bill, and walked away ecstatic when witness after witness demanded the addition of open carry. In contrast, when pressed about open carry afterward, sponsor state Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) apathetically stated the bill is what it is as filed. Meanwhile, Brannan's sentiments were shared by Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples).

This indifferent attitude is standing in the way of what the majority wants and are united in demanding.

Republicans, who are members of the party that champions the Second Amendment, hold a supermajority in our Legislature. Instead of taking insignificant baby steps they hope will appease their base, they should take the large leaps for freedom which they have promised the voters. Lawmakers in more politically divided states have introduced and passed the very policy we are demanding and guess what it's popular!

Forty-seven states have open carry on the books in some fashion, including 25 via authentic constitutional carry laws. Even Hawaii, a Democrat supermajority-run state whose entire economy relies on tourism, has open carry.

The same old arguments about bad people getting guns and Wild West shootouts materializing in the streets will be raised, but we have a mountain of evidence from other states to refute these claims. And to clarify, this legislation has nothing to do with acquiring firearms rather it only authorizes those who already own firearms legally to carry them in public without government permission.

Now is the chance for Gov. DeSantis to once again step in and snag victory from the clutch of defeat by the members of his own party in the Legislature. While hes catching some flak over other Second Amendment missteps, DeSantis can prove the doubters wrong with this issue by demanding open carry before anything gets his signature.

We dont want watered down legislation. We want the great leap that other states have taken, which will put Florida at the forefront of liberty on another critical issue and far away from New York, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Im urging Floridas leadership to get it done the right way!

Luis Valdes is the Florida state director for Gun Owners of America, a nonprofit, grassroots lobbying organization. He is a former police officer and detective.

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Floridians want open carry, and lawmakers should listen to them - Sarasota Herald-Tribune