Are There Too Many Guns in Florida?

As Florida is poised to become the first state to have issued 1 million concealed firearm permits, Patch wants to know: Why are there so many guns here, and is there such a thing as too many guns?

Florida had issued more than 993,000 active permits as of Nov. 30, Bloomberg.com reports. Adam Putman, Florida’s commissioner of agriculture and consumer affairs, said at a news conference Wednesday that the state will pass the 1 million mark next week.

“Floridians have a great respect and appreciation for their Second Amendment rights,” Putnam said.

The news comes just days after a shooting spree at an Oregon mall left two people dead, as well as a murder-suicide by an NFL player, which prompted some high profile calls from the media for gun control.

Bloomberg also reports that:

The number of concealed permits in Florida has nearly doubled since 2008. Putnam said he didn’t know what accounted for the increase in permits.

We want to hear from you, Tampa Bay. Any idea why there are so many guns here in Florida? Is it just a case of people expressing their Constitutional right, or is there such a thing as too many guns? Post a comment below and join the conversation.