Legislation Introduced to Ban Assault Weapons in Florida

Two Democratic legislators introduced a bill in the Florida Congress, in the United States to prohibit the assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, an initiative that contrasts with another initiative to allow the carrying of firearms without the need for a permit, sponsored by the governor, Ron DeSantis.

The new bill, SB 462/HB 579, was filed with the House of Representatives of Florida on Wednesday by female lawmakers Anna Eskamani and Lori Bermanin an effort to curb the escalation of violent crimes in the state linked to firearms.

The initiative takes place in a state that in recent years has been severely punished for massacres by firearms, such as the gay club Pulsein 2016, when 49 people died and 53 were injured.

The shooting at Parkland High School, in the county of Broward, which occurred on February 14, 2018 and in which 17 people died and 14 were injured, reopened the debate in Florida on firearms.

The bill lists different types of rifles assault rifles and other weapons that would be banned if approved, including the model used in the Pulse club shooting, according to local media reports.

The bill defines the terms for the prohibition of sale or transfer of assault weapons and high-capacity chargers, a rule that also specifies exceptions through the corresponding certificates and provides criminal sanctions for offenders.

The presentation of this project occurs the same week that the president of the Florida House of Representatives, the Republican Paul Rennerannounced that the legislature is "ready" to pass a bill sponsored by DeSantis in March that It would allow the carrying of firearms without the need for a permit.

The Republicans control the state legislature and have enough votes for the project to go ahead, which some media anticipated could become a reality next March.

Eskamani released a statement to justify his initiative in which he stated that freedom must include the live without armed violence in the streets.

“That is not the case today in Florida and it will not be the case with carry without a permit either. We are experiencing a historically high level of gun violence and the evidence is clear that this policy is bad for public safety, so passing it will be dangerous," Eskamani said before the initiative announced by Renner.

Last April, DeSantis promised he would sign a law allowing state residents to carry a firearm without a permit, something he called "constitutional bearing”.

Florida citizens don't need permits to buy a gun, but they do need permits to carry them in public, so if passed, this rule would eliminate the requirement.

The term "constitutional carry" refers to the right to carry a firearm, either discreetly or openly, thanks to the Second Amendment to the Constitutionwhich gives the American people the right to keep and bear arms.

Most Republicans, DeSantis voters, gun owners, and white voters "oppose the carrying of firearms without a permit," the organization noted last December. giffords, founded by former Democratic congresswoman for Arizona Gabby Giffordswho in 2011 survived a gun attack in Tucson.