© 2024 WLRN
SOUTH FLORIDA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bill Allowing Medical Personnel To Carry Guns Clears House

Peter Haden/WLRN

Legislation allowing medical personnel to carry guns when they are involved in tactical law enforcement duties was passed by the Florida House.

The vote Wednesday was 111-2 in favor of the bill, which specifies that medical personnel could only carry guns if they have a concealed weapons permit and are assigned to law enforcement units such as SWAT teams. They would have to undergo firearms training and training in the law enforcement agency's use-of-force policies.

The medical professional would have no duty to retreat and could use deadly force only for self-defense or the defense of others. The measure would apply to a paramedic, physician or osteopathic physician assigned to a tactical law enforcement unit.

A similar bill is pending in a Senate committee.

Copyright 2020 Health News Florida. To see more, visit .

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.
Associated Press
More On This Topic