Florida ‘open carry’ gun bill is a formula for complete mayhem

Florida Sen. Greg Steube’s “open carry” bill (SB 140) has no place in a civil society.

Floridians already have the right to a concealed weapons permit, and we can proudly march around the woods with firearms during deer season for the cost of a hunting license. The only reason to display guns in public is to threaten and intimidate others.

Steube, R-Sarasota, and supporters would replace our mission of a peaceable society with one where implicit threats of violence and murder are daily fare. The bill is beyond disgusting; it’s an overt challenge to your unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Joining Florida’s existing “stand your ground” statute, Steube’s proposed open carry bill would be a formula for complete mayhem.

“Stand your ground” is already giving legal cover to gang-related shootings. Under the Steube bill, it gets far worse. Men could walk the streets with AR-15s over their shoulders, bringing scenes from the Mexican cartel drug wars into our cities and towns.

A stranger could legally approach you carrying a loaded Glock; he could legally walk up to your front door, his hand on a gun in open display. The homeowner, perceiving the gunslinger as a threat, could legally open fire, protected by “stand your ground.”

Under the bill’s “campus carry” provision, a college senior could walk into a professor’s office with a gun to contest a bad grade. Legal guns in airports would require us to place teams of heavily armed police in all terminals, like we see in Latin America.

The “open carry” bill would let angry citizens display their displeasure with elected officials by carrying loaded assault rifles into their county and city commission meetings — only a fool would serve in public office under such conditions.

Law enforcement has difficulty protecting life when they can’t distinguish the bad guy with a gun from everybody else with a gun. What remains of public safety in Florida will evaporate the day we allow the angriest and most paranoid of Florida’s citizens to wave loaded guns on our streets.

How long does the Legislature imagine the state’s tourism industry would survive if guns were carried in public? Prepare to kiss Florida’s tax base goodbye.

To our dearly elected state legislators: If your maker endowed you with the power of foresight, now would be a good time to use it.