DeSantis Asked To Ban Guns At Election Night Party, Told Tampa City Officials To Say It Was Their Decision

The Washington Post reports:

As Gov. Ron DeSantis prepared for an election night party in downtown Tampa last year, city officials received a surprising — and politically sensitive — request.

The Republican governor’s campaign wanted weapons banned from his victory celebration at the city-run Tampa Convention Center, a city official said in emails obtained by The Washington Post. And the campaign suggested that the city take responsibility for the firearms ban, the official said — not the governor, who has been a vocal supporter of gun rights.

“DeSantis/his campaign will not tell their attendees they are not permitted to carry because of the political optics,” Chase Finch, the convention center’s safety and security manager, said in an Oct. 28 email to other city officials about the request.

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Fl Gov. Ron DeSantis wanted to ban guns at election night party but wanted host to take the blame, in latest example of tension with gun rights activists. https://t.co/9qtoetEhDy

— Beth Reinhard (@bethreinhard) February 10, 2023