House Panel Approves Open Carry Gun Measure
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) - The Florida House's Criminal Justice Subcommittee has approved a bill that would allow licensed gun owners to openly carry their weapons.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz says his bill will make the state safer, pointing at statistics that show violent crime and robbery are lower in states that allow the open carry of handguns.
Democratic Rep. and former police officer Dave Kerner opposed the bill, saying it has no provisions that require gun owners to holster their weapons and be trained on how to keep someone else from grabbing their guns.
Also Tuesday, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously approved a bill that would outlaw backyard gun ranges and celebratory gun fire in densely settled neighborhoods.
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