Another pistol-packing agenda in Fla.

It’s not as if Florida is in desperate need of more laws that let people carry guns in more places.

But that’s what we’re seeing in the opening volley of bills for the legislative session that begins in March. Why? Because certain gun-loving legislators believe the biggest issues facing Floridians are the restrictions on where people can carry guns.

So look for bills with shorthand names like airport carry, campus carry, open carry and even lawmaker carry.

That’s right. After holding onto strong Senate and House majorities in November’s election, the Republican-led legislature is again talking about letting lawmakers carry guns in the Capitol.

Given how tempers flair during legislative battles, the last thing the rotunda needs is lawmakers packing heat.

The first gun bill filed was HB 6001, by Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia, who hopes to let concealed-weapon permit holders carry loaded guns in airport terminals.

Here’s the argument: if a terrorist opens fire, people with concealed weapons – who happen to be dropping off family members, dining in airport restaurants or walking someone to a gate – could protect themselves and others.

But if bullets start to fly, these same folks also could cause unintended consequences, particularly if law enforcement officers don’t know which person with a gun is the bad guy. No wonder the measure is opposed by the Florida Airports Council, which represents 19 commercial airports and more than 75 general aviation airports, including Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

A similar proposal failed last year, but like bad weeds, unpassed gun bills return every spring for another go-round.

“Certainly we are going to continue to work to try to promote the rights of the Second Amendment and for concealedcarry permit holders,” said Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, an avid gun-rights legislator and the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It’s not as if Floridians are clamoring to carry concealed weapons in airports. In fact, Florida is one of the few states that don’t allow guns in airports. Let’s keep it that way.

Last year, it must be said, we saw some real backbone in standing up to the National Rifle Association. Three highly publicized pro-gun bills — one to let people carry concealed weapons on university campuses, one to let gun owners openly carry guns in most places and one to make it easier to use a Stand Your Ground Defense — were defeated.

But Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, RMiami, who kept the bills from being heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee he chaired, lost his re-election bid in November. And as we mentioned, Steube is the new chairman. Still, there’s hope. As outlined on Politico, several obstacles face this year’s pro-gun bills:

Incoming Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has made improving the state’s universities a top priority. And the presidents of Florida’s colleges and universities strongly opposed last year’s push to let people carry concealed weapons on campus. Certainly, they would oppose it again.

Negron appointed Sen. Randolph Bracy, a Democrat from Orlando, to chair the Criminal Justice Committee, which would presumably hear any proposed gun legislation. Bracy is opposed to campus carry and open carry. If his committee refuses to hear the bills, he could become this year’s best hope for blocking passage of these measures.

That said, if the NRA wants gun bills passed, you can bet there will be pressure. Because more times than not, the NRA gets what it wants in Florida.

New Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich, who served 12 years in the Florida House and Senate, fought the NRA plenty when she was in Tallahassee. Besides bad gun bills, she’s concerned that the state refuses to let cities and counties opt out of gun laws they find inappropriate for their region.

“If we want to get rid of the gun show loophole (in Broward), we can’t do it,” Rich said. “They don’t need any reason (to pass more gun laws) other than the NRA telling them what to do.”

Florida has many pressing concerns – including the environment, education and the economy – that need to be heard in the upcoming session.

What we don’t need is more laws to allow more guns in more places.