SB-498 Church Carry by Sen. Joe Gruters and HB-259 Church Carry by Rep. Jayer Williamson & Rep. Cord Byrd have collectively been heard in five different Legislative Committee hearings in the Florida Senate and Florida House.

The bill has been met with opposition in every committee form House Democrats. In one committee hearing it was asked what the sheriffs in the sponsor’s district thought about the bill. The sponsor of the bill stated he had not asked.

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Sheriff Wayne Ivey of Brevard County conducted his own poll of 64 of the 67 sheriff’s in Florida. He stated he was not able to reach 3 of them.

He submitted the following letter to the NRA to discuss his results.

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Dear Marion, 

With the outcome of the Church Carry bill, SB-498 and HB-259 moving through the Florida Legislature, I took it upon myself to individually talk to and poll 64 of our Florida Sheriffs on how they feel about this important piece of legislation, designed to protect our citizens and houses of worship.  While there are actually 67 Sheriffs in Florida I was unable to reach 3 of them after leaving messages in an effort to speak to them on the matter. 

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Not surprisingly, of the 64 Florida Sheriffs that I personally spoke with, 62 of them overwhelmingly SUPPORT the bill and 2 Sheriffs had not had a chance to review the bill, so were undecided in their support or opposition. 

The poll without question sends a clear and profound message that our Florida Sheriffs support the private property rights of religious institutions and the self-defense rights of law-abiding gun owners. 

Sheriff Wayne Ivey,

Brevard County

CLICK HERE to view a current copy of the bill as amended by bill sponsors: 

https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0259c2.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0259&Session=2021