A TTAG reader who wishes to remain anonymous writes:

I just got off the phone with Senator Greg Steube’s office. Tomorrow is the Judiciary Committee meeting. The open carry bill, SB 140, is not on the agenda. The Senator’s legislative assistant Alex Blair stated that the good Senator will not place it on the agenda for this meeting or any future meeting until such time there is a “better political climate.”

Once again, Florida open carry and campus carry are dead in the water. Even if HB 6005 (campus carry) passes the House, SB 140 was the related bill. Without SB 140 clearing the Judiciary Committee; it can’t reach a floor vote.

I directly asked the LA if there is a chance Sen. Steube will bring it to the agenda or if it is dead in the water. The LA said that it is dead in the water and will not be reaching a floor vote this year.

So we can do one of two things. Either hang our heads in shame or press on and push harder. We’re damn close. The political stars have aligned and we need to ride the wave.

Next year will not happen. 2018 is an election year and because of that they will not push open carry or campus carry. Furthermore I fear we will get a Democrat in office as a Governor. Rick “Skeletor” Scott beat Charlie “Suntan” Crist by 1%. That’s it…one freaking percentage point. So I believe we either go all in this year or we gain nothing at all because of next year.

I’m asking if you can post this information and rally your readers to call and email the Florida Speaker of the House, the Florida Senate President, and Sen. Steube’s Office.

Sen. Greg Steube (FL Judiciary Committee Chair and author of SB 140 Open Carry)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s23

District Office

722 Apex Road Unit A

Sarasota, FL 34240

(941) 342-9162

Tallahassee Office

326 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

(850) 487-5023

Sen. Joe Negron (Senate President)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Offices/President

https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s25

District Office

3500 Southwest Corporate Parkway Suite 204

Palm City, FL 34990

(772) 219-1665

FAX (772) 219-1666

Toll Free (888) 759-0791

Tallahassee Office

305 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

(850) 487-5025

Senate President Staff Office

404 S. Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

Phone: (850) 487-5229

Rep. Richard Corcoran (FL Speaker of the House)

https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4503

District Office

Suite 101 17953 Hunting Bow Circle

Lutz, FL 33558-5375

Phone: (813) 792-5177

Capitol Office

420 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300

Phone: (850) 717-5037.

What pisses me off is the fact that the Republican Party has a super majority in state government. We control the House, we control the Senate, we control the Governor’s office. We control all the committee and subcommittees. Yet the fucking Florida GOP still does this.

Last year it was Senator Diaz de la Portilla (R) who killed it by keeping it in committee, never bringing it to agenda, and letting the 2016 Legislative Session end without it getting to a floor vote.

In 2011 it was Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff (R) who killed it by adding an amendment to SB 234 that stripped open carry from the open carry bill. It was voted Yes – 26 to No – 11. The Florida GOP controlled both the House and Senate in 2011.

Now, I’m not saying Sen. Stuebe is purposely killing open carry. He’s been very vocal about it and when he was in the Florida House he submitted bills for open carry. But I am saying that as a whole, the Florida GOP is downright against us having open carry.

We need to press the attack and not let up. We need to light up their emails, phones, and offices. The Speaker of the House is ducking my calls and emails and won’t meet with me now. Neither will the Senate President. As I said, I personally take time off every year during session and committee meetings to campaign for gun rights. And so far this year…has been the worst.