Florida’s Democrat lawmakers are trying to push gun control legislation through the Florida legislature. Specifically, they are seeking to expand Florida’s red flag law that currently allows law enforcement officers to seek a court order to confiscate a person’s firearms if the court decides that person is a threat to themselves or others.
“To curb gun violence in Florida we need to expand red flag laws so that people who are a danger to themselves or others will have to surrender their firearms to law enforcement,” said State Representative Carlos Smith (D-Orlando).
The Florida House Democrats tweeted the same sentiment, calling for a red flag law expansion.
“House & Senate Democrats have led on common-sense gun safety reforms for years. Let’s expand the Red Flag Law, to get guns out of the hands of people in crisis quickly,” the Florida House Democrats said. “We can make Florida safer.”
House & Senate Democrats have led on common sense gun safety reforms for years. Let’s expand the Red Flag Law, to get guns out of the hands of people in crisis quickly. We can make Florida safer. pic.twitter.com/03zY6M5J14
— Florida House Democrats (@FLHouseDems) May 25, 2022
If passed through the legislature and signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the red flag law expansion would allow friends and family to seek a court order in order for a person’s firearms to be confiscated by law enforcement.
Gun rights groups have criticized red flag laws as being potentially disastrous for the possibility of bypassing due process.
“It’s just it’s a such a delicate situation because we value the rights and liberty and independence of people, and at the same time, we also have an obligation to keep others safe,” said attorney Aaron Bean to News4Jax.
Florida’s Republican lawmakers were also the ones who joined gun-control Democrats in passing the initial red flag law back in 2018 in the wake of the Parkland school shooting tragedy.
The governor who signed the law, now-Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), expressed support for working with congressional Democrats to pass a national red flag law.
DeSantis has not made any public comments regarding the possibility of red flag law expansion in Florida, but he did promise to pass constitutional carry before he leaves the Governor’s Mansion.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Red Flag Law” by Florida House Democrats.
