Governor Ron DeSantis is turning up the heat on Florida Republicans for stalling open carry gun legislation. In a video posted by Florida Gun Rights, a visibly frustrated DeSantis asked, “Are we Florida or are we San Francisco?” as he mocked GOP lawmakers for failing to move forward on the issue.
Florida enacted constitutional carry in 2023, becoming the 26th state to do so. However, unlike many other constitutional carry states, Florida’s law only covers concealed carry. The state still bans the open carry of handguns, a restriction Gov. Ron DeSantis is now pressuring legislators to eliminate.
On February 1, 2025, DeSantis publicly called on lawmakers to pass open carry legislation, emphasizing that Floridians deserve the same rights as citizens in other constitutional carry states. His call to action comes as more states have moved to allow both concealed and open carry without permits, with the total now at 29.
Adding legal pressure, Gun Owners of America filed a federal lawsuit in August 2024 challenging Florida’s ban on open carry. The lawsuit argues that the restriction violates the Second Amendment and stands in opposition to the nation’s historical traditions. GOA referenced early American patriots who openly carried arms during the fight for independence as part of their constitutional argument.
DeSantis has consistently positioned himself as a defender of constitutional rights, especially when it comes to the Second Amendment. He has also urged repeal of other post-Parkland gun control measures, including Florida’s red flag law and the state’s restriction on long gun purchases for adults under 21.
The issue has now become a clear dividing line within Florida’s Republican ranks. With a GOP supermajority in the state legislature, DeSantis’s latest push puts direct pressure on lawmakers to act or risk being publicly called out for failing to protect the right to bear arms.
