Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Friday, championed by Broward law enforcement agencies, that authorized trained paramedics and physicians attached to a SWAT team to carry a firearm during high-risk operations. The law states that paramedics are justified in using firearms to defend themselves. Florida’s new law will allow paramedics to carry firearms when responding to shootings, drug raids, and other high-risk situations.
The law identifies other such instances as dealing with an armed suicidal person and hostage situations.
Medical professionals carrying firearms are required to complete annual firearm safety training and tactical training, the measure says.
Kansas and Ohio already have emergency responder-firearm laws in place. Similar bills have been proposed in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Virginia.
The law goes into effect in Florida on July 1, 2019.
