Portrait of Ron DeSantis
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Ron DeSantis on Gun Control

Strong Gun Rights Advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Ron DeSantis strongly supports expanding gun rights by loosening restrictions and opposing new regulations in Florida.

Key Points

  • He signed legislation in May 2025 to repeal automatic prohibitions on firearm possession and sales during a state of emergency, effective immediately.

  • In 2023, he signed a bill into law allowing Floridians to carry concealed firearms without a permit or training, starting July 1 of that year.

  • He has advocated for rolling back post-Parkland gun safety measures, specifically criticizing "red flag laws" as violating due process rights.

Summary

Ron DeSantis, as Governor of Florida, has consistently pushed for the expansion of gun rights, viewing current restrictions as infringements upon the Second Amendment. His core position centers on expanding what he terms "Constitutional Carry," which allows Floridians to carry concealed firearms without a permit or mandated training. He signed permitless carry legislation into law, stating that a constitutional right should not require a government permission slip. Furthermore, he has advocated for repealing safety measures enacted after the Parkland shooting, specifically citing issues with "red flag laws" as a due process violation.

This approach reflects a broader, rightward shift in Florida's politics during his tenure, positioning the state against the majority of Floridians who favor stricter measures like universal background checks. His goals include rolling back the age requirement for long gun purchases from 21 back to 18, and he has even proposed economic incentives, such as a sales tax holiday for firearms purchases. The governor also supports granting immunity to gun manufacturers in certain liability cases, signaling a deep commitment to protecting the firearms industry and gun owners from regulation and litigation.

Key Quotes

“Constitutional Carry is in the books,”

“We need to be a strong Second Amendment state.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Ron DeSantis is a strong proponent of gun rights and actively seeks to loosen existing firearm restrictions in Florida. He has publicly supported measures like permitless carry and opposed regulations he views as constitutional overreach, such as 'red flag' laws. His stated goal is for Florida to be a leading 'Second Amendment state.'

His overall stance has been consistently in favor of expanding gun rights. However, his legislative agenda appears to have moved further rightward, pushing to repeal measures passed after the Parkland shooting and seeking to eliminate more restrictions. He has also faced criticism from hardline activists for not going far enough, such as not immediately enacting open permitless carry.

Ron DeSantis signed legislation in 2025 that prevents the state from automatically banning firearm possession or sales during a declared state of emergency. He has framed this as protecting Second Amendment rights when citizens need protection most. This action directly counteracts previous emergency measures that temporarily restricted gun access.