Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has named state senator Bryan Avila as his running mate on the Republican ticket this fall, and the move appears to be going over well with many folks on the Right.
Politico notes that Avila has been heading up Latinos for Byron for the past several months, adding that he gives Donalds "a deputy with deep relationships in the Legislature that he’d need to help enact his agenda."
"And as a Florida Army National Guard captain, Ávila could also help shore up the state’s sizable veteran vote. Legislation he introduced to regulate data centers could also help mitigate attacks Donalds has faced on the issue."
One Second Amendment group in Florida, though, isn't thrilled about Avila's elevation onto the ticket.
"Very concerning Bryan Avila voted for the largest piece of gun control in Florida history when he was in the state house," Florida Gun Rights posted on X. "We need to repeal the Parkland gun control not promote its supporters."
However, another Second Amendment organization says it isn't bothered by Avila's vote, because they say that the man at the top of the ticket has vowed to repeal the Parkland measure if elected governor in November.
"Bryan Avila voted for Parkland, but the Governor sets policy, not the Lieutenant Governor," said Luis Valdes, Florida director of Gun Owners of America, in a text message.
"With Donalds, CFO Blaise Ingoglia, and AG James Uthmeier all opposed to Parkland gun control, three of Florida's four statewide officers are now aligned against it. GOA expect Donalds to keep his word and repeal Parkland."
It's worth noting that Avila also voted in favor of Florida's permitless carry law a few years ago.
I would be more concerned about Donalds' decision to pick Avila as his running mate if the position held any actual power. The only reason I can even name the current Lt. Gov. is because Jay Collins was running for governor this year. Collins was appointed to the position in 2025, and I had to look up who he replaced. As it turns out, Jeanette Nuñez was DeSantis's top deputy for six years (who knew!), and I don't think I've written about her a single time... at least until now.
The choice between Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly is an easy one for Second Amendment voters. Donalds wants to repeal the unconstitutional gun laws that were put in place after the unspeakable tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Jolly wants to add to them.
Unlike many Democrats this cycle, Jolly isn't shying away from his support for gun control. This is taken directly from his campaign website:
David Jolly supports four measures to reduce gun violence in Florida: ban the sale of new assault weapons, require universal background checks for all firearm sales to close loopholes, explore licensing requirements for firearm ownership, and preserve and expand Florida's red flag laws.
Jolly claims that those policies "keep firearms out of dangerous hands without confiscating guns from law-abiding owners or infringing on Second Amendment rights."
If he truly believes that banning the sale of commonly owned firearms, imposing a back-door gun registry through universal background checks, requiring a permission slip from the government to possess a firearm, and expanding "red flag" laws doesn't infringe on the Second Amendment, then he must not think the Second Amendment really protects the right to keep and bear arms.
Is Avila perfect on Second Amendment issues? No. Is that a reason for Second Amendment supporters to back the Democrat in the governor's race, or to not vote at all? Also no.
It's fine for Florida Gun Rights to express their disappointment about Donalds' pick. Now that they've done so, I hope they'll turn their attention to Jolly's views on the Second Amendment and his support for extreme gun control measures that would take Florida backwards.
Editor’s Note: The radical Left will stop at nothing to enact their extreme gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
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