It is only day 114 in 2023. Yet the number of mass shootings this year has already reached 168. Amongst the rise of gun violence, people would expect a tighter reform of gun use and possession; instead, the opposite is occurring. Effective July 1, House Bill 543 will make Florida the 26th state to allow permitless concealed carry. Although the law will maintain permits and background checks to buy a gun, people will no longer be required to have training nor a permit to carry it. 

With similar laws implemented all over the nation, gun violence has seen an increase of 13 to 15 percent in states with concealed carry laws. The reason could very easily be the loophole of firearm transactions. Although the federal law requires sellers to perform background checks, unlicensed and online sellers typically do not perform this process. 80% of all firearms acquired for criminal purposes are from unlicensed sellers.

In these cases concealed carry permits could have provided a legitimate background check that would have confiscated guns from the wrong people—background checks that could have reduced armed homicide by 35%. But further prevention from gun related crimes is not available with the new law that facilitates this violence.

Even if guns are bought legally, deadly consequences remain. Previously, permit owners were required to take a training course that taught gun usage, maintenance and storage. After the implementation of HB 543, this will no longer be the case. Of course, Gov. Ron DeSantis ignores the fact that untrained civilians end up injuring themselves or others due to firing too quickly when trying to avoid danger.

The effects are not limited to the violence. Tourists will be rightfully scared to come to a state with more guns, and especially international tourists who will look at our shooting numbers and decide to go elsewhere. With Florida earning $51 billion from tourism annually, this could prove detrimental. Although the law does implement restrictions of places where conceal carry is not permitted, most of these places do not include restaurants, malls or even tourist spots like beaches. Just imagine trying to go back-to-school shopping at the mall and suddenly hearing gunshots. Or how about strolling on the beach for a walk and wondering if the family next to you is packing a gun in their lunch cooler. With concealed carry law, expect these situations to become more common.

The statistics and countless deaths speak for themselves: we cannot afford loosening gun restrictions. Because the reality is that using guns as a way to cater toward voters may leave them satisfied until the death count starts to rise. HB 543 will simply make a mass shooting headline in the news no longer seem like a big deal which should not, in any circumstance, be the case.