DeSantis Pushes Open Carry as Florida Court Strikes Down Ban, On the Same Day Charlie Kirk Was Assassinated
Talk about political whiplash. On the very day Charlie Kirk was gunned down in Utah, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was back on stage in Plant City, touting his commitment to expand gun rights in his state. The timing, whether intentional or not, was politically catastrophic.
The Court Ruling That Changed Everything
Two days after DeSantis once again called for open carry, the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled that Florida’s ban on openly carrying firearms is unconstitutional. In a 20-page opinion, Judge Stephanie Ray, joined by Judges Lori Rowe and M. Kemmerly Thomas, cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, which emphasized the nation’s “historical tradition” of firearm regulation:
“History confirms that the right to bear arms in public necessarily includes the right to do so openly. That is not to say that open carry is absolute or immune from reasonable regulation. But what the state may not do is extinguish the right altogether for ordinary, law-abiding, adult citizens.” — Judge Stephanie Ray
The ruling undercuts Florida’s long-standing restriction on open carry, upheld by the Florida Supreme Court in 2015. It means that, absent new legislative limits, Floridians could openly carry rifles, shotguns, and handguns just as freely as they conceal them.
DeSantis’ Political Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
At a Sept. 8 press conference promoting Florida’s first “Second Amendment tax holiday,” DeSantis promised to “push again for lawmakers to end the open-carry prohibition.” Just hours later, news broke that Charlie Kirk had been assassinated at Utah Valley University a killing carried out with chilling precision from 200 yards away. Kirk, a Trump ally and outspoken pro-gun activist, became the latest political figure targeted by gun violence.
The juxtaposition couldn’t have been harsher:
In Utah, a right-wing star is killed by a sharpshooter.
In Florida, DeSantis is pushing to make guns more visible and accessible.
Whether DeSantis knew about the shooting at the time of his remarks is unclear, but the optics are inescapable. What was supposed to be a flex for his conservative base now reads as stunning political misfortune advocating for wider public gun rights on the very day a MAGA ally was fatally shot.
What Comes Next in Florida
Florida already passed permitless concealed carry in 2023, allowing residents to carry handguns without a license. The court’s new ruling effectively extends that right to open carry, unless the legislature creates new restrictions. DeSantis has repeatedly said he would sign an open carry bill if lawmakers brought one to his desk. A version was filed earlier this year but withdrawn before introduction. Now, with the courts siding against the state, legislators face pressure to codify open carry into law or risk legal chaos.
The Larger Political Context
The DeSantis administration has branded Florida as a “Second Amendment stronghold,” leaning heavily on gun rights rhetoric to appeal to conservative voters. But the Kirk assassination underscores the darker reality: political violence isn’t abstract, and firearms remain the chosen weapon of extremists. By promoting open carry on the very day a high-profile conservative was assassinated by gunfire, DeSantis inadvertently highlighted the contradiction at the heart of America’s gun debate: expanding gun rights while gun violence escalates in the political sphere.
The Bottom Line
Court Ruling: Florida’s open carry ban struck down as unconstitutional.
DeSantis’ Push: Governor vows to expand open carry rights, promises to sign legislation.
The Coincidence: DeSantis’ comments landed the same day Charlie Kirk was assassinated with a rifle shot in Utah.
Political Fallout: A move designed to energize the base now risks looking tone-deaf, reckless, or simply cursed by bad timing.
Sources
- https://people.com/charlie-kirk-suspect-described-tactical-gear-aviator-glasses-11807815?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- https://www.reuters.com/world/no-suspect-custody-charlie-kirk-shooting-after-hours-confusion-2025-09-11/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- https://ew.com/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-11807591?utm_source=chatgpt.com
