Under normal circumstances, Florida gun owners can be charged with a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison if they have their weapon on or about their person in public without a concealed weapons permit. Unlike bills to allow guns in schools and state college campuses, there was little opposition to allowing unpermitted gun owners to evacuate with their weapons. "A lot of people would not leave their firearms behind to be destroyed in a hurricane or be stolen by looters," said Marion Hammer, a former NRA president who now lobbies for the group and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida. Brandes' office had no records of emails or letters opposing the bill, and Rep.