Bill Would Move Concealed Weapons Licenses To FDLE

Tallahassee, FL - The state’s concealed-weapons licensing program would be moved to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, under a measure proposed Thursday by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation. The proposal came as National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer is urging that the Republican-dominated Legislature move the program from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ office. Democrat Nikki Fried, who was elected Nov. 6 to succeed term-limited Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, has questioned the need for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to oversee the program, which came under scrutiny this summer after the Tampa Bay Times and Associated Press highlighted errors in background checks. In a tweet on Tuesday, Fried came out in support of the proposed move of the program to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.  

Politics should have no role in our concealed weapons permit process—the current system has allowed groups like the @NRA to control our state government for long enough. I fully support moving the program to be under the authority of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. https://t.co/FJDjIHoJCS

— Nikki Fried (@nikkifried) November 28, 2018

Fried and Hammer have clashed over the program.  

The NRA’s irresponsible proposal to move background check authority from the Department of Agriculture to the CFO’s office is a blatant power grab and shameless political party shopping.

— Nikki Fried (@nikkifried) November 28, 2018

In Book’s measure (SB 108), which would take effect Jan. 1, 2020, the Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services would have to provide the FDLE all records of the program and “may not retain any copies, whether physical, electronic, or otherwise.” The bill is filed for consideration during the 2019 legislative session, which starts in March. Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, declined to comment Thursday. “He will review legislation that has been filed and refer it to the appropriate committees for their consideration,” Galvano spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email.