State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) and state Sen. Lori Berman (D-Palm Beach) have filed legislation that would ban assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in Florida.
Eskamani and Berman filed SB 462 / HB 579 Wednesday in an effort to curb gun violence across the state. The proposal comes less than two weeks after back-to-back mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California, that killed 18.
The legislation lists dozens of assault-style rifles and weapon models that would be banned if passed, including that used in the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting that killed 49 in Orlando.
SB 462/HB 579 closely follows House Speaker Paul Renner’s announcement Monday of legislation that would allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without licenses. This bill, which supporters call “constitutional carry,” would also eliminate the firearm training that is currently required when obtaining concealed weapons licenses.
“Freedom should include the freedom to live a life free of gun violence. That’s not the case today in Florida and it won’t be the case with permit-less carry either. We are experiencing a historically high level of gun violence and the evidence is clear that this policy is bad for public safety, and passing it will be dangerous,” Eskamani said in a statement.
Days before Eskamani and Berman filed SB 462/HB 579, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost delivered a floor speech addressing the 39 mass shootings that happened in the United States in the first three weeks of 2023.
Coming soon: Orlando Weekly Daily newsletter. We’ll send you a handful of interesting Orlando stories every morning. Subscribe now and don’t miss a thing. Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter