A Florida Senate committee chairwoman is obstructing laws that will restore rifle and shotgun buying rights to younger adults regardless of the invoice passing the state Home with a supermajority vote six weeks in the past. This transfer has prompted fierce criticism from gun rights organizations demanding rapid motion.
Florida Carry issued an pressing alert on February 26, 2026, calling on Second Modification supporters to strain Senate Guidelines Committee Chair Kathleen Passidomo and Senate President Ben Albritton to permit a vote on Home Invoice 133. The group characterised the delay as an unconstitutional obstruction of basic rights assured to all grownup residents.
“Senator Kathleen Passidomo, chairperson of the Florida Senate Guidelines Committee, is obstructing Home Invoice 133 from getting a listening to,” Florida Carry acknowledged in its e-mail to members. The group famous the invoice was referred to Passidomo’s committee on January 16, 2026, simply sooner or later after the Home accepted it by a commanding 74 to 37 margin.
“It has been stonewalled ever since,” the alert continued. “Senator Passidomo is clearly unconcerned that 18 to twenty 12 months olds ought to get pleasure from the identical basic enumerated proper, assured by the Second Modification to the Structure, that each one different adults get pleasure from.”
Stay Stock Value Checker
Home Invoice 133, sponsored by Home Majority Chief Tyler Sirois of Merritt Island, would decrease the minimal age for buying rifles and shotguns from 21 again to 18 by amending Part 790.065 of the Florida Statutes. The laws particularly targets restrictions enacted via the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive College Public Security Act, which Florida lawmakers handed in 2018 following the Parkland tragedy.
Underneath present regulation, any 18 to 20-year-old who purchases a firearm faces as much as 5 years imprisonment, a $5,000 tremendous, or each. The invoice would restore buying rights for lengthy weapons whereas sustaining federal prohibitions on handgun purchases from licensed sellers for these beneath 21.
The Florida Home has now handed just about similar payments 4 consecutive periods, in 2023, 2024, 2025, and once more with HB 133 in January 2026, however the Florida Senate has refused to advance the measure each time.
Replace from the Capitol.
Senate Management is refusing to the touch the Army Aged Buy ban repeal. That is utterly unacceptable. This has handed the Home 4 years now.
The 2nd Modification is being handled as a second class proper right here in Florida. Try the tweet… pic.twitter.com/z0M2Njs8n1
— Florida Gun Rights (@FLGunRights) February 4, 2026
Florida Carry framed the continued obstruction in constitutional phrases, invoking civil rights historical past in its recommended message to senators. “A proper delayed is a proper denied,” the group declared, urging members to remind lawmakers that “Florida gun homeowners are watching.”
Gun Homeowners of America Florida State Director Luis Valdes has been among the many most vocal advocates for the laws, testifying earlier than committees and offering media commentary all through the method. Throughout committee testimony, Valdes framed the present regulation as a violation of rights and particularly highlighted its affect on ladies.
“Most significantly, the problem with this laws is that it disarms ladies. It disarms younger folks. It disarms my very own daughter,” Valdes acknowledged. “She’s 5 years previous proper now, however when she turns into 18, if she decides to maneuver out of my home and attends faculty, I need her to have the ability to defend herself.”
The invoice’s sponsor has emphasised constitutional rules in defending the measure. “This nation has an issue with faculty shootings, however the reply to that’s not to infringe upon the constitutional rights of regulation abiding folks,” Sirois acknowledged.
Florida Carry famous that Senate President Albritton and Guidelines Committee members possess the authority to demand a vote on the laws however have didn’t train it. The group supplied contact info for 20 Republican senators and urged supporters to be “well mannered, however agency” of their communications.
“This injustice, born within the kneejerk emotional response to the Parkland tragedy, should finish,” Florida Carry declared. “Those that can do this want to listen to from you instantly.”
In a exceptional improvement, Florida Lawyer Normal James Uthmeier introduced he wouldn’t defend the present age restriction if challenged on the Supreme Court docket, stating that “women and men sufficiently old to struggle and die for our nation ought to be capable of buy firearms to defend themselves and their households.”
Whether or not HB 133 advances now relies upon completely on whether or not Senate management permits a vote earlier than the session concludes. Florida Carry’s pressing mobilization displays rising frustration amongst gun rights advocates who’ve watched the Home go the identical laws 12 months after 12 months solely to see it die with out consideration within the higher chamber.
Texas’ District 23 Pits RINO Towards In style Gun Rights Champion
Florida Invoice Exempts Church Safety from Non-public Safety Rules
About José Niño
José Niño is a contract author based mostly in Charlotte, North Carolina. You’ll be able to contact him through Fb and X/Twitter. Subscribe to his Substack e-newsletter by visiting “Jose Nino Unfiltered” on Substack.com.
