Open Carry Bill May Not Get Hearing In Senate
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - Senate Judiciary Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla may not bring up a controversial open-carry gun measure in his committee during this year's legislative session.
The move would effectively stop the proposal, which is strongly backed by Second Amendment groups including the National Rifle Association.
Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, said on Monday that he had grown uneasy with the proposal. The House passed its version of the bill last week after adding an amendment that would allow state lawmakers to carry sidearms into legislative meetings.
"I am concerned that it may become a vehicle for some very, very bad amendments. I think that's what we learned last week," Diaz de la Portilla said. "Because of those concerns, I'm very, very seriously considering not hearing it at all."
Diaz de la Portilla said he'll decide later this week if the bill will be heard by his committee. The bill would allow the nearly 1.5 million people in Florida with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry guns in most public places.
The House voted 80-38 to approve its version last week.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
