State Rep. Joel Rudman filed a bill Monday aiming to loosen gun restrictions, calling open carry a right protected under the Second Amendment.
Currently, Florida allows concealed carry, where firearms must remain hidden from view.
Eric Cioffi, manager at Naples Guns & Ammo and former member of the Florida National Guard, explained the difference.
"A concealed gun means it's on you, but a person looking at you can't see it. So that means either in a holster on the belt, in your pocket, in a pack, in a handbag, or a in a box," Cioffi said.
But with open carry, the firearm is visible.
"So, for example, if I wear it on my hip I would normally have my shirt over the gun, if my shirt comes up and the gun is [visible], that's in violation of concealed carry," Cioffi said. "But, now I can walk around with a gun showing in an open carry situation."
Cioffi acknowledged that some customers oppose open carry, fearing it makes them a target. But he says he sees open carry as a deterrent to crime.
"It makes you a harder target. Criminals look for soft, vulnerable targets, and people with guns are not vulnerable," Cioffi said.
Not everyone supports the measure. Senate President Ben Albritton has publicly opposed the bill.
"I stand with law enforcement in opposition," Albritton said. "I trust my law enforcement officials, and that’s where I stand."
The proposed bill also seeks to repeal Florida’s red flag law. Passed after the Parkland school shooting in 2018, the law allows law enforcement to remove guns from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Cioffi emphasized the importance of responsible gun ownership, noting that buying a firearm involves strict background checks and screenings.
"It’s not as easy as walking in and walking out with a gun," Cioffi said. "It’s a serious process we take very seriously."
The bill must still pass through the legislature before any changes take effect.