Exercising the Right
Florida Permits Carrying Guns in Church
The ABC affiliate based in Tallahassee, Florida, reported on June 30 about a new law in the state that will allow residents with concealed-carry permits to carry their guns at churches or any other religious institutions that share properties with schools. ABC7 reported that state law already permitted people to carry concealed handguns at churches and other religious institutions, but that it excluded sites that shared property with a school. The bill was sponsored by Republican State Senator Joe Gruters, who told ABC7, “There are always threats…. And all we’re doing is giving them, those religious institutions, the ability and the right to be able to say ‘yes,’ if we choose. We’re going to allow concealed permit holders — it’s not the wild, wild West — we’re giving one of the safest subgroups in our society the ability to carry.”
The bill, popularly referred to as “Church Carry,” had long been sought by gun-rights activists, but it wasn’t until recently that it had enough votes to pass. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a supporter of the legislation, quickly signed the bill into law, which changed the prior restriction on concealed carrying on church grounds with adjacent schools. While this bill does get Governor DeSantis’ name in the national news and elevate his profile at a time when political observers believe he may be planning a 2024 presidential run, some Second Amendment supporters feel that this measure isn’t enough. Matt Collins, director of legislation for Florida Gun Rights, told WFLA.com that while the move was a step in the right direction, gun-rights activists really want permitless carry, also known as “constitutional carry,” to be legalized in the state. Collins told WFLA.com, “Constitutional Carry is the law in 21 other states but where does Governor Ron DeSantis stand on this critical issue? So far he has been silent.”
Father Shoots “Peeping Tom”
ABC13 KTRK-TV reported out of Harris County, Texas, on June 28 about a shooting that showed the lengths to which a mother and father will go in order to protect their child. According to Harris County police deputies, the mother and father were awakened in the middle of the night by the sounds of their young daughter screaming. The husband and wife quickly armed themselves and ran to the girl’s bedroom, and discovered a man looking into their daughter’s window. The parents were also horrified to see that the deranged man was inappropriately touching himself while watching the young girl. The mother and father went outside the house to confront the man and told him to lie down on the ground, but he fled to a nearby gas station. In a move that many might criticize as overreaching, the armed couple followed the man and tried detaining him for police. It was at that moment that the suspect wrestled the wife’s handgun from her and aimed it at her. The husband, fearing the suspect would now shoot his wife, fired his own gun at the now-armed “peeping Tom,” hitting him repeatedly. The wounded suspect was transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment and is expected to survive his injuries. Law enforcement said the incident has been referred to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for a grand-jury review. The father told police that the reason he and his wife were so prepared was because his daughter had complained of a perverted peeping tom watching her during the night in the past.The parents had never seen anyone before, but wanted to be prepared this time.
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