As soon as praised as a Republican ally of gun homeowners, Florida Rep. Paul Renner now faces fierce criticism from pro-gun organizations who accuse him of betraying the Second Modification. Since Renner introduced his candidacy for governor, grassroots activists have begun analyzing his report extra carefully.
As Speaker of the Florida Home from 2022 to 2024, Renner rose to the heights of state Republican management, but his report has generated deep mistrust amongst grassroots gun homeowners and a number of the nation’s most principled pro-gun organizations.
Paul Renner first entered the Florida Home of Representatives in 2015 after securing a particular election victory. By 2022, he had climbed to the influential publish of Speaker. All through his ascent, Renner positioned himself as a conservative dedicated to constitutional values and a dependable ally of Second Modification advocates. His profession, nonetheless, tells a extra sophisticated story when examined by the lens of particular legislative battles.
Gun rights activists have been sounding the alarms about Renner since his 2018 vote within the wake of the Parkland tragedy. In response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty mass taking pictures, Renner voted for sweeping gun management laws (Senate Invoice 7026) that raised the minimal age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and created “pink flag” legal guidelines empowering authorities to confiscate weapons from individuals deemed harmful. When pressed on this in 2023, Renner asserted it was “a flawed invoice that contained provisions he opposed,” however, as activists level out, he nonetheless voted for a measure that curtailed Floridians’ rights.
Certainly one of Renner’s most contentious actions was his position in blocking open carry. In 2023, Rep. Mike Beltran filed an modification to a permitless carry invoice that will have allowed open carry. Renner’s management compelled the modification’s withdrawal, with Beltran stating it wasn’t “the appropriate car or the appropriate time” to move this modification.
Renner’s much-touted permitless carry invoice, which he known as the tip of “the federal government permission slip,” was panned by gun rights teams for not going far sufficient. Bob White, who chairs the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida, advised the Senate Felony Justice Committee, “Now we have been against the invoice from the very starting from the second the press convention was held with the large placard that mentioned ‘constitutional carry’ throughout the entrance of it – it’s a lie.”
“To name this invoice constitutional carry is an insult to our intelligence,” White added. “It doesn’t present for open carry. It doesn’t remove the prohibition in opposition to carrying on a university or college campus, leaving tens of 1000’s of scholars at risk of being assaulted.”
Testifying earlier than the Home Constitutional Rights, Rule of Legislation and Authorities Operations Subcommittee, gun proprietor Robert Boras delivered an emotional rebuke of GOP lawmakers: “This isn’t what we had been promised for 4 years now. Truthfully, it feels prefer it’s the least quantity of effort that may be put forth by Republicans to maintain the gun vote. … I received’t vote for one more Republican if open carry just isn’t included on this invoice.”
In 2024, Renner maintained his reluctance towards passing open carry, making clear open carry was useless on arrival: there was “not an urge for food in each chambers to get that carried out.” He added, “We all the time should measure whether or not it’s well worth the committee [and] Home flooring time to move a invoice that will be controversial that will take loads of time, that we all know is useless on arrival.”
Luis Valdes, Florida director of Gun House owners of America, provided maybe the sharpest rebuke of Renner’s refusal to move open carry: “You will have a Republican Home Speaker state that he and his Republican colleagues don’t have an ‘urge for food’ to debate and vote on open carry. You will have a Republican Senate President [Ben Albritton] state that repealing the under-21 buy ban is a ‘non-starter.’ But each have the nerve to marketing campaign that they’re pro-gun.”
When Renner determined to announce his run for Florida governor on September 3, he was immediately attacked on social media. Florida Gun Rights, one of many Sunshine State’s main Second Modification teams, summarized their antipathy towards Renner bluntly: “Paul Renner voted for the Parkland Invoice, the worst invoice in Florida historical past for gun homeowners. He additionally refused to combat for Open Carry within the Constitutional Carry invoice of 2023 as a result of it will have been too laborious a combat.”
Paul Renner voted for the Parkland Invoice, the worst invoice in Florida historical past for gun homeowners. He additionally refused to combat for Open Carry within the Constitutional Carry invoice of 2023 as a result of it will have been too laborious a combat. https://t.co/R4A6BLigRT
— Florida Gun Rights (@FLGunRights) September 3, 2025
Different social media critics have been equally unforgiving: “As Home Speaker, Renner then blocked pro-gun payments that will have repealed Florida’s open carry ban. The 2nd Modification is absolute—there’s no “however” in 2A,” mentioned Twitter consumer @LouisLJJohns.
Always remember: Paul Renner voted in opposition to my pursuits. In 2018, @Paul_Renner backed the Parkland gun management invoice, whereas @ByronDonalds stood robust and voted in opposition to it. As Home Speaker, Renner then blocked pro-gun payments that will have repealed Florida’s open carry ban. The 2nd… pic.twitter.com/DQbqKkPe2i
— Louis (@LouisLJJohns) September 3, 2025
This displays the prevailing sense that Renner’s posturing in regards to the Second Modification rings hole amongst Florida’s grassroots conservative base who want concrete reforms.
Renner’s report underscores an uncomfortable fact about Republicans. Regardless of typically claiming to be pro-gun on the marketing campaign path, they will flip into probably the most insidious threats to gun rights as soon as in workplace. By paying lip service to the Second Modification whereas blocking or watering down key reforms, their betrayals are each refined and harmful.
This actuality calls for fixed vigilance from grassroots gun homeowners. They need to strain representatives repeatedly and maintain even self-proclaimed allies to account, making certain loyalty to not the occasion however to basic constitutional ideas. As Renner’s tenure proves, the Second Modification endures not by blind belief in politicians, however by the tireless activism and scrutiny of elected officers themselves. It’s this activism that retains politicians in line.
Florida Appeals Court docket Strikes Down Open Carry Ban as Unconstitutional
About José Niño
José Niño is a contract author based mostly in Austin, Texas. You possibly can contact him by way of Fb and X/Twitter. Subscribe to his Substack publication by visiting “Jose Nino Unfiltered” on Substack.com.
