This morning the Florida Senate PASSED HB-503 Guns-locked-in-cars-in parking-lots by a vote of 26-13 and sent it to the Governor Crist for his signature.
HB-503 by Rep. Greg Evers (R-Milton) & Sen. Durell Peaden (R-Crestview) protects the right of Florida gun owners to keep a firearm locked, out of sight, in your private vehicles for lawful purposes in parking lots.
For three years we have fought corporate giants and big business bullies. They have been banning guns and violating the rights of gun owners. Their intent was to prohibit a citizen from parking in public access parking lots if you have a gun locked in your car or truck for protection while traveling to and from shopping, work, or where ever your daily routine takes you. They have been violating our right of self-defense and our right to keep and bear arms.
No where in either the US Constitution or the Florida Constitution are businesses given this mythical right they claim they have to control everything on their property. No such right exists. And no where are businesses authorized to usurp constitutional rights of individuals. Nor do businesses have the right to search private vehicles of customers or employees. Or to ban the lawful possession of firearms or any other legal property in a private vehicle simply because the vehicle is parked in a parking lot provided for customers, guests and employees.
The U.S. and the Florida Constitutions both give citizens the right to keep and bear arms and the right of self-defense. Further, F.S. 790.25 (5) specifically authorizes the carrying of firearms in private vehicles for lawful purposes.
Then, do business owners have a right to preempt constitutional and statutory rights? The answer is No. But they have been doing it anyhow and this bill stops it. Bravo!
Let's hope that Governor Crist makes the right choice and signs the bill into law immediately!
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