The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature on Thursday voted to let gun owners in the nation’s third most populous state carry guns without a state permit, delivering on a campaign promise by Gov. As Ron DeSantis ramps up his potential run for the presidency,

DeSantis was promoting his book at a Georgia sporting goods shop that claims to be the largest gun store in the world. He promised to quickly pass the legislation.

DeSantis stated that you don’t need permission slips from the government in order to exercise your constitutional rights. “And there are 25 states, so that’s half of the states that allow it. We will make Florida 26 next week, because I will be signing it into law.

The legislation was approved by Florida legislators just days after three children were killed in a school shooting. Democratic legislators criticized the measure as a step back, pointing out that several restrictions on guns were enacted in Florida in the immediate aftermath to the Parkland massacre in 2018, where 17 people died.

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State Sen. Lori Berman (D, West Palm Beach) said that “It’s shameful and it’s disrespectful for the Parkland families as well as every Floridian who lost a loved ones to gun violence.”

Florida joins an increasing number of red states that are pushing for new gun rights laws. Texas, Virginia and Ohio, along with a few other states, have all attempted to relax gun restrictions. More than twenty-six states have passed laws similar to Florida’s Thursday.

DeSantis has indicated for months that he supports this legislation. Gun rights supporters have repeatedly called upon GOP legislators not to stop there and allow gun owners to openly carry guns in the state. They criticized DeSantis on Thursday for not going further.

Matt Collins, a former lobbyist for gun-rights groups and a gun rights advocate, said that the bill was a “half-measure” and not what gun owners had been promised. It doesn’t contain an open-carry provision, so it isn’t constitutional carry. This bill shows weak leadership by Governor DeSantis, and the Republican legislative leadership. Gun owners deserve better.”

Florida’s Republicans have held the Legislature for over 20 years. They have slowly eased gun restrictions. After the Marjory Stoneman Doug High School shooting, the Republicans in Florida voted to increase the minimum age to buy a rifle. They also passed a “red flag law” that allows law enforcement officers to request a judge to take guns away from anyone they consider a danger to themselves or others.

While running for governor in 2018, DeSantis said that he would not have signed the Parkland legislation into law. Florida House is moving a bill that would lower the age requirement from 18 to 18. This was the age at which Nikolas Cruz bought the semi-automatic rifle that he used in Parkland. However, Kathleen Passidomo (Republican Senate President) has stated that she doesn’t support the reduction of the age restriction.

DeSantis stated that he was for open carry. However, Passidomo, along with other Republican legislators, opposed allowing residents to carry guns in public due to the opposition of many Florida sheriffs.

Florida law makes it a crime to carry a concealed weapon in Florida without a permit. More than 2.64million people have concealed weapon licenses. They must undergo training and go through a background check. The new law, which took effect July 1, does not repeal the permit program. It makes it optional. Many Floridians will be able to go through the permitting process, according to Bill supporters. Licenses are recognized by other states.

The Senate voted 28-13 — Miami Republican Senator Ileana Garcia joining the 12 Democrats in opposition — for DeSantis to sign the measure. Last week, the Florida House approved the legislation with a vote of 76 to 32.

Before the vote, there was a heated debate about guns. Both sides argued over constitutional rights and whether ending state’s permitting program would result in an increase in gun-related deaths.

State Sen. Jonathan Martin (R. Fort Myers) stated that “this bill attempts to restore the God-given rights of humanity, and the God-given rights of self-defense.”

“I’ve read all the Bible,” replied Senator Bobby Powell. “There is no Bible verse that speaks about guns.” The Bible does not mention that God loved the world so much to give his only begotten weapon.