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GOP Gubernatorial Hopeful Adam Putnam Flirts With Campus Carry

Commissioner Adam Putnam, flanked by state officials and Florida guard members, speaking at an armory in Tallahassee.
Nick Evans
Commissioner Adam Putnam, flanked by state officials and Florida guard members, speaking at an armory in Tallahassee.
Commissioner Adam Putnam, flanked by state officials and Florida guard members, speaking at an armory in Tallahassee.
Credit Nick Evans
Commissioner Adam Putnam, flanked by state officials and Florida guard members, speaking at an armory in Tallahassee.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is touting a two year old program fast tracking concealed weapons permits for veterans and National Guard members.  And the Republican is mulling whether he’d expand where those licenses are valid if he wins the governor’s race.

Two years ago a gunman in Chattanooga, Tennessee targeted unarmed service members working at recruiting centers.  In response, Florida officials were quick to expedite concealed weapons licenses for reservists.  Commissioner Putnam says his office has approved more than 82,000 licenses since.  

The Republican gubernatorial hopeful believes prohibiting firearms creates easy targets.

“No, I think that gun free zones,” Putnam says, “where the victims have no opportunity to defend themselves, ought to be modified in a responsible way so that people can exercise their second amendment rights and defend themselves.”

Putnam says he’s ready to embrace open carry in some form, and he’s leaving the door open for campus carry, too.

“Think of the number of students who are also in the guard,” he says.  “Think of the number of students who have done their time in Afghanistan or Iraq.  Think of the number of students who have had extraordinary amounts of firearms training who are highly qualified, highly competent and safe.”

Still, Putnam stopped short of a full-throated endorsement for the policy. 

Despite National Rifle Association and conservative support, measures for open and campus carry have fallen short of passage in the state Legislature for a number of years running.

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Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.