A measure that will allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without licenses or training was approved Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, reports Axios. With Florida, more than half of U.S. states now allow permitless carry of a concealed weapon. The state's Republican-supermajority legislature advanced the bill last Thursday after the governor indicated he'd approve it. "A constitutional right should not require a permission slip from the government," the governor told legislators this month. "It is time we joined 25 other states to enact constitutional carry in the state of Florida."
Effective July 1, the measure will allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permit or training. Under current law, residents must undergo firearms training, clear a background check and pay fees when applying for a concealed-carry license. Under the new law, a person will be allowed to carry a concealed weapon without a license if they meet the current requirements, including not having been convicted of a felony or found guilty of a crime relating to controlled substances within a three-year period. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called it "shameful" that DeSantis signed the bill "so soon after another tragic school shooting .. This is the opposite of commonsense gun safety,” the Washington Post reports.