New gun control legislation recently passed in Florida and received the signature of Governor Rick Scott to make it permanent. Unfortunately, the new law is expected to cause significant financial losses both due to restrictions it implements as well as the processes and downtime that is expected to occur with the transition. The potential losses seem to be the product of a failure to research implementation as well as poor planning.
What Does the New Law mean For Gun Owners?
The bill was a result of lobbying and public pressure after the recent school shooting in Parkland, FL where activists (who admittedly have never shot a gun before) pushed the narrative that restriction of law-abiding citizens who are exercising their second amendment rights will lessen the amount of school-related tragedies. Even though history shows us that restrictions do not prevent criminals from committing acts of violence.
The new bill will require the age limit to increase from 18 to 21 to purchase any firearm including rifles and shotguns. There will also be a waiting period imposed for a background check or three days whichever is greater to make a purchase.
There is an exception to the waiting period for military members, police personnel, and those licensed to hunt or concealed carry. Additionally, the bump-stock attachment that can allow rifles to fire faster will no longer be able to be purchased in the state of Florida.
The bill also allows for more security in the school by allowing the superintendents and sheriff departments to train and arm certain employees such as counselors or coaches to legally carry in the school. The employees will have to undergo training and cannot include staff that is full-time in a classroom. Millions of dollars were also allocated in the bill to allow training and hiring of more armed school guards as well as funding designated for more mental health services and regulations.
Financial Losses Occurring From the Recent Legislation
The first major hit suffered was by Florida gun dealers since immediately upon signing the bill into law the Florida Department of Law Enforcement immediately shut down the firearm background check system to perform the updates to accommodate the recent gun provisions. They did this without notification to gun dealers.
Dealers were understandably upset because the FDLE had had plenty of notification to prepare their system for an upgrade and not only failed to do so but failed to train their customer service representatives to handle calls from dealers for clarification.
When dealers called in for assistance, many were told that the customer service were not attorneys and that it would be up to the FFL to interpret their law and determine how it would be pertinent to purchase and transfer dates. They were also told to contact their own legal counsel if they are unsure. The unsure nature of the FDLE’s regulations shows in their dealing with person’s under 21 who have weapons currently in consignment shops awaiting sale. Dealers have been given everything from being told they have 30 or 90 days to get their firearm back otherwise they lose it.
The continued confusion will no doubt lead to continuing expenses to gun shops and consignment shops as they try and determine their new legal obligations.
Will the Financial Effect on Those Under 21 Violate Their Second Amendment Rights?
The hardest hit by the rapid enforcement of the bill is those who were in the process of purchasing or acquiring a firearm who are under the age of 21. With the new legislation, those who are under the age of 21 will not be able to secure their firearm that was on layaway and will most likely have to forfeit the money paid so far.
Additionally those who have paid in full for a special order firearm that has not yet arrived, will no longer be able to receive it as the FDLE will consider the purchase nullified. With custom-made weapons, return policies typically included fees to restock and ship back. This will be the same for those who have purchased online but have not received the product yet.
The FDLE has yet to comment on how they will handle guns that have been in the shop for repairs, or guns that are on consignment, and how the owner can receive it back if it fails to sell if they are under 21 years of age. With these overnight changes and many of the handling policies still yet to be decided, many dealers are worried that following these new protocols are in effect violating the 2nd amendment rights of gun owners under the age of 21.
~ American Gun News
This is just an example of Rick Scotts inability to govern with a clear head.
GEORGE. I would like to ask SCOTT a simple question ie:::: Since CROOKS, MISCREANTS, THUGS, ETC,ETC, do NOT obey laws, (ESPECIALLY THE 22,000 GUN LAWS ,NOW ON THE BOOKS,) Then GUN LAWS only effect LEGAL,LAW ABIDING citizens. SO— PLEASE EXPLAIN how this NEW SCOTT LAW will provide more SAFETY and PEACE to a POLITE society. !!!!!!! UMMMHM ??????
The only ones who will be safe from this bunch of botched law will be the lawyers as they make moucho, big litigation bucks, fighting to preserve the 2nd amendment to the US Constitution..
this is typical of the rush to do something gun control groupies who have to just rush to do something to feel good and do not think past getting what they want, with no debate or time for the real public to step back and see or think of what the consequences of their actions will be for them and the state.
More laws only use up paper, they will not solve anything, enforce our current laws and stop the pretense.
Florida, stupid is as stupid does !!
I believe this law has several purposes. A To subdue the parents from suing whoever they can, B,to make the Governer and Republican party the good guys, C to get the rabid dog anti gun media off the tv screens and to make the gunshops and sellers the bad guys by making it impossible to keep their doors open ,thereby destroying further the second amendment. Nice work. How about the mental health industry which did nothing to stop this boy from harming others
Not only does this illegal law violate the 2nd amendment, but it also violates the grandfather clause. Ex Post Facto laws are illegal. All those who owned or bought firearms before the enactment of this illegal law, are grandfathered in. Where are all of the high powered attorney’s?
HAS ANYONE CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT IF A PERSON IS NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO OWN A GUN UNTIL THEY ARE 21, THEN WHY IN THE WORLD DO WE GIVE THEM A LICENCE, AT 16, TO DRIVE A 3000+ POUND WEAPON, THAT KILLS MORE PEOPLE?
SHOULD WE NOT CHANGE THAT LAW TO MAKE THE MINIMUM AGE TO GET A DRIVER’S LICENSE TO 21 ALSO?
JUAT SAYING!!!!
OR LOWER THE AGE OF GUN OWNERSHIP TO 16 AS WELL! IT IS WOMEN DRIVERS THAT YOU MUST FEAR THE MOST!
But this law was never about improving the system. It was a test to see the pushback from confiscation.
Absolutely NONE of these new “Laws” would have stopped Mr. Cruz from doing what he did nor, will they stop any future mentally ill mad man from repeating his horrible act of lunacy!
Governor Scott has punished his ENTIRE State, violated our Second Amendment and Constitution with this idiotic move.
Does something need to be done? Absolutely! FORCE the FBI to do their JOBS.
FORCE prevent those who have MAJOR or VIOLENT mental illnesses from owning/purchasing any form of firearms.
ARM our Teachers and, place MULTIPLE ARMED Resource Officers on EVERY School Campus.
Governor Scott can expect MANY lawsuits from law abiding AMERICANS for his poorly thrown together “Laws” in the very near future!!!!
I am willing to bet, the good Governor will not survive another election as he has not done one constructive thing to END School Shootings!!
Once again – Is there anything that when left to government oversight that the government doesn’t screw up? There is very little that the government does right or better than what the general public can do. The reason is that government is political and when they implement a program, they only satisfy 1/2 of the population (or less). And once the program is implemented is almost always difficult to impossible to eliminate.
I’m sure Georgia and Alabama gun sales for 18-21 year olds will increase.
Nobody can screw up legislation any better than legislatures who have no knowledge about the subject matter, just knee jerk
reaction to political pressure.
Liberals are quick with their mouth and very slow with their brain processes. They are hurting innocent citizens and making fools of themselves as usual. The kids from the schools are being used as political pawns by Democrats and the whole mess stinks. It appears Florida needs to fix its law enforcement first and get a new set of officials as those in office as jackasses.
What, you want these government freeloaders to think before they act … how silly is that!
They never found the fountain of youth down there, but they sure must have the fountain of stupid. What makes all these legislatards think a criminal that’s already worked up a stack of premeditated charges is going to change his mind when he comes up against this one?
Just setting the stage for the One World Government as prophesied in Rev.13th
chapter.
I hope the good pro 2A citizens of FL will vote this RINO governor out. He just jeopardized those 18-20 y.o. the right to self defense. This is especially dangerous for those living alone. Governor you ;sold out the law abiding gun owners of FL./
I hope the good pro 2A citizens of FL will vote this RINO governor out. He just jeopardized those 18-20 y.o. the right to self defense. This is especially dangerous for those living alone. Governor you sold out the law abiding gun owners of FL.
THE GUN DEALERS IN FLORIDA SHOULD AGREE NOT TO SELL GUNS, AMMO OR ACCESSORIES TO COPS OR POLITICIANS. LET THEM EXPERIENCE SOME INCONVENIENCE! THE DEALERS SHOULD ALSO SELL MOST OF THEIR GUNS AND AMMO ONLINE AND OUT OF STATE. REDUCING THE TAXES PAID IN FLORIDA.
ANOTHER THING THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD DO IS HUNT WITHOUT HUNTING LICENSES AND PAYING FEE’S. AVOID IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE THE PAYING OF TAXES AND FEE’S TO THE STATE. THAT WILL EDUCATE THEM, AND DEMAND CHANGE!
JOHN T. — YOU should run for a public office. LEGISLATURE ? SENATOR ? or GOVERNOR ???? Florida voting citizens will be LOOKING come election time.
Well Florida Should Raise the required age to vote to 21 and the age to enlist or be drafted into the Military to 21 also. If a person 18-20 is not mature enough to own a rifle or shotgun then that person is definitely NOT MATURE enough to vote for some one who can rule for 4-8 years, if at 18-20 the person is not mature enough to own a rifle or shotgun then that person is DEFINATELY NOT MATURE ENOUGH to handle and use the weapons of DEATH and DESTRUCTION that the MILITARY USES DAILY. These ignorant KNEE JERK LAWS do nothing to protect any one THEY only restrict law abiding citizens rights.!!
Rick Scott went from having my admiration to winning my asshole of the year award.
My answer to the good people in Florida is to move to Texas and let the airheads have it. we have lot’s of room here. We love to go to a nice gun range and shoot. Also knowing we can have all the guns we want and be able to carry and keep are family safe in are home are any where we are when we need to. when you pass the sign that says Texas your home free. hope to see you soon. take care,God bless you all.
B.Tex.
In view of the Texas bombings I demand bomb control and background checks with a waiting period to even buy bombs
I for one will make a sizeable contribution to a 2nd Amendment supporting candidate to run against SCOTT
I left that armpit of a state 35 years ago after spending 16 years there. I have been back once and will never go back again.