One of the top challengers to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended the concealed weapons permits of 22 people connected to the US Capitol riot.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried moved on Tuesday to suspend the concealed carry licenses of 22 people charged in connection to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Fried said in a statement, “the deeply disturbing events that occurred at our nation’s Capitol on January 6th were sedition, treason, and domestic terrorism – and those individuals involved in the insurrection must be held accountable for attempting to subvert our democratic process.”
“I just suspended the concealed weapons permits of 22 people involved in the insurrection against the United States of America instigated by Donald Trump on January 6, 2021.” the neo-Marxist zealot said in a tweet Tuesday.
I just suspended the concealed weapons permits of 22 people involved in the insurrection against the United States of America instigated by Donald Trump on January 6, 2021.
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) July 27, 2021
Under Florida law, the Division of Licensing within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has the authority to suspend licenses of people charged with felonies and other offenses.
In a statement announcing the suspensions, Ms. Fried said the licenses suspended since charges began being filed were held by “individuals involved” in the riot.
Her office did not immediately respond about whether all 22 suspended licenses were for people who had been charged in connection with the riot.
Here’s an excerpt from the WFLA report:
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state agency responsible for concealed weapons permitting through its Division of Licensing and maintains a list of the number of a concealed weapon or firearm license holders across the state.
The Licensing Division of FDACS can immediately suspend a concealed carry license when the licensee is charged with a felony or another disqualifying offense. If a judgment is rendered, the law says the permitholders’ licenses can be revoked.
By law, Florida agencies cannot keep a list of legally owned firearms or produce or keep a registry of firearm owners. A permit is not required to own a gun in Florida. State statutes block FDACS from confirming if an individual has ever applied for a license for concealed carry.
Florida had 47 residents among the almost 500 nationwide arrests following the 6 January riot, according to a recent Gannett investigation More licenses are expected to be suspended as arrests are made.
Ms. Fried’s announcement came on the same day that the House launched its special committee to investigate the attack on the US Capitol.
“The deeply disturbing events that occurred at our nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6 were sedition, treason, and domestic terrorism – and those individuals involved in the insurrection must be held accountable for attempting to subvert our democratic process,” she said.
“This is an ongoing effort, and as charges and sentences continue in the wake of this despicable attack, we will further suspend and revoke any additional licenses granted to insurrectionists.”
Ms. Fried announced her run for governor in June and is considered one of the top Democratic challengers to Mr. DeSantis. She is up against fellow Democrat Charlie Crist, the House representative for St Petersburg.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, WFLA, The Hill, Yahoo News