'Guns at church' bill clears Fla. Senate panel
By Jim Turner
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A proposal that would expand the authority of people to carry concealed firearms at religious institutions began moving forward Monday in the Florida Senate.
In a party-line vote, the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee backed the measure (SB 498), which would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to bring guns on properties that churches, synagogues or other religious institutions share with schools.
Florida law generally allows people to carry concealed weapons at religious institutions, but it bars being armed on school properties. That leads to people being prevented from carrying guns on properties shared by religious institutions and schools.