TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An amendment that would have allowed people to openly carry handguns in the state of Florida was withdrawn on Wednesday. The amendment was a proposed addition to CS/HB 543, known internally as the Public Safety bill.

A key restriction that the withdrawn proposal would have included are that any handgun needed to be in a "level two or greater retention device," and the amendment also called for any individual doing so needed to either have a concealed carry license, or meet the criteria to get one. 

The overall bill currently allows a person to concealed carry a weapon or firearm if they are licensed to do so, or if they are able to meet certain requirements. Additionally, the bill would remove the requirement that a person demonstrate competency with a firearm in order to legally carry a firearm.

Current state law requires a concealed carry permit issued by the state before an individual can carry a firearm in public in a concealed manner. Additionally, candidates for a license must have taken a course on gun safety. 

Other provisions in the bill deal with school safety, specifically with firearms. Under current law, a school district or a charter school employee may serve as a "guardian" as long as they are appointed by the school and certified by a sheriff. Anyone who wants to become a guardian needs to hold a concealed carry permit, pass a drug test, and undergo a 144-hour training course. 

The public safety bill being considered would allow private schools the opportunity to also partner with local law officials to establish a safe-school officer on property. 

There are currently 28 amendments to the proposed legislation, seven failed to be adopted in committee, and two have been withdrawn during House deliberations. The bill has been added to the Special Order Calendar, and is scheduled for further action on Thursday. 

Twenty five other states have permitless carry on the books. Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he would sign an open carry bill if lawmakers sent one to his desk.