Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Monday that will allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
The bill becomes law on July 1. The legislation passed Florida’s Republican-dominated legislature last week.
The new law will allow anyone to carry a concealed weapon as long as they have valid identification on them. The punishment for carrying a gun without ID is a $25 fine.
Previously, Floridians were required to apply for a permit from the state and go through a series of background checks before purchasing a gun. Background checks will still be required for sales from licensed dealers, but people who purchase guns through private deals or exchanges will be able to skirt them.
“Constitutional Carry is in the books,” DeSantis said in a short statement.
Though DeSantis usually signs bills into law at splashy public ceremonies, he signed House Bill 543 in a closed-door gathering with a few gun advocates in the room, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
“Governor DeSantis just signed permitless carry into law behind closed doors, probably because he knows it’s dangerous & unpopular,” said a gun control organization founded by former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
When the law takes effect, Florida will become the 26th state to allow residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit. However, citizens will still need a permit if they wish to bring their gun to one of the other 24 states.
DeSantis, 44, has now rolled back many of the changes to Florida gun laws that followed the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Those laws were signed by a different Republican governor, Rick Scott.