| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to regulation of firearms; creating s. |
| 3 | 790.34, F.S.; creating the Florida Firearms Freedom Act; |
| 4 | providing a short title; providing legislative findings; |
| 5 | providing definitions; providing that specified firearms, |
| 6 | firearm accessories, and ammunition for personal use |
| 7 | manufactured in the state are not subject to federal law |
| 8 | or regulation; providing that the importation into the |
| 9 | state of specified parts and the incorporation of such |
| 10 | parts into a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition |
| 11 | manufactured in the state does not subject the firearm, |
| 12 | firearm accessory, or ammunition to federal regulation; |
| 13 | providing that certain basic materials are not subject to |
| 14 | federal regulation of firearms, firearm accessories, or |
| 15 | ammunition under interstate commerce; providing that |
| 16 | specified firearm accessories imported into the state from |
| 17 | another state do not subject a firearm to federal |
| 18 | regulation under interstate commerce; providing |
| 19 | legislative findings with respect thereto; providing |
| 20 | exceptions; providing applicability; requiring that |
| 21 | firearms manufactured and sold in the state must bear an |
| 22 | indicia of manufacture by a specified date; providing an |
| 23 | effective date. |
| 24 |
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| 25 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 26 |
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| 27 | Section 1. Section 790.34, Florida Statutes, is created to |
| 28 | read: |
| 29 | 790.34 Florida Firearms Freedom Act.-- |
| 30 | (1) SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the |
| 31 | "Florida Firearms Freedom Act." |
| 32 | (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.-- |
| 33 | (a) The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution |
| 34 | guarantees to the states and their citizens all powers not |
| 35 | granted to the Federal Government elsewhere in the constitution |
| 36 | and reserves to the State of Florida and its citizens certain |
| 37 | powers as they were understood at the time that Florida was |
| 38 | admitted to statehood in 1845. The guaranty of those powers is a |
| 39 | matter of contract between the State of Florida and the citizens |
| 40 | thereof and the United States as of the time that the compact |
| 41 | with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Florida |
| 42 | and the United States in 1845. |
| 43 | (b) The regulation of intrastate commerce by the Ninth |
| 44 | Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees to the |
| 45 | people rights not granted in the constitution and reserves to |
| 46 | the State of Florida and its citizens certain rights as they |
| 47 | were understood at the time that Florida was admitted to |
| 48 | statehood in 1845. The guaranty of those powers is a matter of |
| 49 | contract between the State of Florida and the citizens thereof |
| 50 | and the United States as of the time that the compact with the |
| 51 | United States was agreed upon and adopted by Florida and the |
| 52 | United States in 1845. |
| 53 | (c) The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the |
| 54 | states under the Ninth Amendment and the Tenth Amendment to the |
| 55 | United States Constitution, particularly if not expressly |
| 56 | preempted by federal law. Congress has not expressly preempted |
| 57 | state regulation of intrastate commerce pertaining to the |
| 58 | intrastate manufacture of firearms, firearm accessories, and |
| 59 | ammunition. |
| 60 | (d) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution |
| 61 | reserves to the people the right to keep and bear arms as that |
| 62 | right was understood at the time that Florida was admitted to |
| 63 | statehood in 1845. The guaranty of that right is a matter of |
| 64 | contract between the State of Florida and its citizens and the |
| 65 | United States as of the time that the compact with the United |
| 66 | States was agreed upon and adopted by Florida and the United |
| 67 | States in 1845. |
| 68 | (e) Section 8, Article I of the Florida Constitution |
| 69 | clearly secures to the citizens of Florida, and prohibits |
| 70 | government interference with, the right of individual Florida |
| 71 | citizens to keep and bear arms. This constitutional protection |
| 72 | remains unchanged from the original Florida Constitution, which |
| 73 | was approved by Congress and the people of Florida, and the |
| 74 | right exists as it was understood at the time that the compact |
| 75 | with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Florida |
| 76 | and the United States in 1845. |
| 77 | (3) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section: |
| 78 | (a) "Basic materials" means raw materials, including, but |
| 79 | not limited to, unmachined steel and unshaped wood, used in the |
| 80 | creation and manufacture of firearms, firearm accessories, or |
| 81 | ammunition that have manufacturing or consumer product |
| 82 | applications other than applications in the manufacture of |
| 83 | firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition. |
| 84 | (b) "Borders of Florida" means the boundaries of Florida |
| 85 | as described in s. 1, Art. II of the Florida Constitution. |
| 86 | (c) "Firearm accessories" means items that are used in |
| 87 | conjunction with or mounted on a firearm but are not essential |
| 88 | to the basic function of a firearm, including, but not limited |
| 89 | to, telescopic or laser sights, magazines, flash or sound |
| 90 | suppressors, folding or aftermarket stocks and grips, speed- |
| 91 | loaders, ammunition carriers, and lights for target |
| 92 | illumination. |
| 93 | (d) "Generic and insignificant parts" includes, but is not |
| 94 | limited to, springs, screws, nuts, and pins that may be used in |
| 95 | the manufacture of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition |
| 96 | but that have manufacturing or consumer product applications |
| 97 | other than applications in the manufacture of firearms, firearm |
| 98 | accessories, or ammunition. |
| 99 | (e) "Manufactured" means the creation of a firearm, a |
| 100 | firearm accessory, or ammunition from basic materials for |
| 101 | functional usefulness, including, but not limited to, forging, |
| 102 | casting, machining, or any other processes used to form |
| 103 | materials used in the creation of firearms, firearm accessories, |
| 104 | or ammunition. |
| 105 | (4) FIREARMS, FIREARM ACCESSORIES, AND AMMUNITION FOR |
| 106 | PERSONAL USE MANUFACTURED AND REMAINING IN FLORIDA NOT SUBJECT |
| 107 | TO FEDERAL LAW OR REGULATION; LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.-- |
| 108 | (a)1. It is the finding of the Legislature that a firearm, |
| 109 | firearm accessory, or ammunition for personal use that is |
| 110 | manufactured commercially or privately in Florida from basic |
| 111 | materials without the inclusion of any significant parts |
| 112 | imported from another state and that remains within the borders |
| 113 | of Florida is not considered to have traveled in interstate |
| 114 | commerce. |
| 115 | 2. A firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition that: |
| 116 | a. Is for personal use; |
| 117 | b. Is manufactured commercially or privately in Florida |
| 118 | from basic materials without the inclusion of any significant |
| 119 | parts imported from another state; |
| 120 | c. With respect to a firearm, has the words "Made in |
| 121 | Florida" clearly stamped on a central metallic part of the |
| 122 | firearm, such as the receiver or frame; and |
| 123 | d. Remains within the borders of Florida |
| 124 | |
| 125 | is not subject to federal law or federal regulation, including |
| 126 | registration, under the authority of Congress to regulate |
| 127 | interstate commerce. |
| 128 | (b)1. It is the finding of the Legislature that generic |
| 129 | and insignificant parts that may be used in the manufacture of |
| 130 | firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition but that have |
| 131 | manufacturing or consumer product applications other than |
| 132 | applications in the manufacture of firearms, firearm |
| 133 | accessories, or ammunition are not considered to be firearms, |
| 134 | firearm accessories, or ammunition. |
| 135 | 2. The importation into the state of generic and |
| 136 | insignificant parts that may be used in the manufacture of |
| 137 | firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition but that have |
| 138 | manufacturing or consumer product applications other than |
| 139 | applications in the manufacture of firearms, firearm |
| 140 | accessories, or ammunition, and the incorporation of such parts |
| 141 | into a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition manufactured in |
| 142 | the state, does not subject the firearm, firearm accessory, or |
| 143 | ammunition to federal regulation. |
| 144 | (c)1. It is the finding of the Legislature that basic |
| 145 | materials, such as unmachined steel and unshaped wood, that may |
| 146 | be used in the manufacture of firearms, firearm accessories, or |
| 147 | ammunition but that have manufacturing or consumer product |
| 148 | applications other than applications in the manufacture of |
| 149 | firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition are not considered |
| 150 | to be firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition. |
| 151 | 2. Basic materials, such as unmachined steel and unshaped |
| 152 | wood, that may be used in the manufacture of firearms, firearm |
| 153 | accessories, or ammunition but that have manufacturing or |
| 154 | consumer product applications other than applications in the |
| 155 | manufacture of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition are |
| 156 | not subject to congressional authority to regulate firearms, |
| 157 | firearm accessories, or ammunition under interstate commerce as |
| 158 | if such basic materials were actually firearms, firearm |
| 159 | accessories, or ammunition. |
| 160 | 3. The authority of Congress to regulate interstate |
| 161 | commerce in basic materials does not include the authority to |
| 162 | regulate firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition |
| 163 | manufactured in the state from basic materials and that remain |
| 164 | within the state. |
| 165 | (d) Firearm accessories that are imported into the state |
| 166 | from another state and that are subject to federal regulation as |
| 167 | being in interstate commerce do not subject a firearm to federal |
| 168 | regulation under interstate commerce by virtue of being attached |
| 169 | to or used in conjunction with a firearm in Florida. |
| 170 | (5) EXCEPTIONS.--This section does not apply to: |
| 171 | (a) A firearm that cannot be carried and used by one |
| 172 | person. |
| 173 | (b) A firearm that has a bore diameter greater than 1 1/2 |
| 174 | inches and that uses smokeless powder, rather than black powder, |
| 175 | as a propellant. |
| 176 | (c) Ammunition with a projectile that explodes using an |
| 177 | explosion of chemical energy after the projectile leaves the |
| 178 | firearm. |
| 179 | (d) A firearm that discharges two or more projectiles with |
| 180 | one activation of the trigger or other firing device. |
| 181 | (6) APPLICABILITY.--This section applies to firearms, |
| 182 | firearm accessories, and ammunition described in subparagraph |
| 183 | (4)(a)2. that are manufactured in Florida after October 1, 2010, |
| 184 | and remain within the state. |
| 185 | (7) FIREARMS MANUFACTURED IN FLORIDA; INDICIA OF |
| 186 | MANUFACTURE REQUIRED.--Effective October 1, 2010, a firearm |
| 187 | manufactured and sold in this state must have the indicia "Made |
| 188 | in Florida" clearly stamped on a central metallic part of the |
| 189 | firearm, such as the receiver or frame. |
| 190 | Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2010. |