MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — As a result of HB 543, the permitless concealed carry law Governor Ron DeSantis signed, gun store owners have seen more people walk through their doors, and not just for firearms.
One store owner says he has sold more conceal carry guns since the law was passed, but he was surprised that more people came in to take safety classes, even though he thought he would have a dip in sales since permits are no longer needed to carry.
What You Need To Know
- Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new permitless carry bill into law
- A local gun enthusiast wasn’t surprised to see that there was an increase in sales
- Despite the fact that it’s no longer required, more people are enrolling in gun safety classes
“We get a lot of green people who have never shot before, who are 50 years or older, of families who want to train together, and we get a large amount of 20-something-year-olds,” Said Ian Cherry, the owner of a gun shop and safety class center called Whisky Tango Firearms.
Like any parent, Aaron Alexander wants to protect his family. For him, that means owning and carrying a gun.
“Guns are not a deterrent; they are there to take down a threat,” he said.
He owned his first gun at 18, and learning about gun safety was a priority.
“It was our freedom and right and felt safer,” he said.
He’s been buying guns for more than 30 years now. But not just to protect his wife and children, he is also a collector. It’s a passion of his that’s been passed down through his family.
“My uncle got me into guns. He took me out shooting when he was 13; the first gun I shot was his elephant gun. He had a smirk on his face the whole time I held it up to my shoulder, knowing it was going to kick like a mule,” he said.
He goes to the range about 5 times a year to keep his aim sharp and practice safety skills. That commitment is the reason he’s against the new law. Alexander thinks people should be required to take the safety classes.
“It’s easier to carry now, they don’t have to go through the classes, they don’t have to get the permit, you have some people who are afraid, you got the wrong people who are going to be carrying now,” he said.
But gun store owners in Manatee County say not only have their sales increased since the law passed, so has attendance in their safety classes. That’s a relief for Alexander.
“The more people that have firearms, hopefully, the fewer problems we will have in crime,” he said.
The shooting range is also a way to educate his family, so they all know how to use guns safely.
“I take my son and my daughter out and teach them and make it a family thing. It’s just a good way to be together,” he said.
Alexander understands the responsibilities of carrying a gun and wants to make sure others understand, too.
Julia Hazel
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