TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — A Florida man who shot an alligator to death when it was trying to kill his dog is generating support for increased gun freedom in the state.
When an eight-foot gator pounced on Winston, his chocolate Labrador, the man promptly fired four bullets into the massive predator’s skull. The dog sustained minor injuries, but was otherwise unharmed.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) circulated the remarkable rescue story on Thursday, calling attention to the man’s concealed carry license and his support for constitutional carry legislation.
🐶NEWS: A Florida man used his concealed gun to save his chocolate lab, Winston, from an alligator attack. After the almost eight-foot gator jumped the fence and grabbed Winston, the man fired four shots into the gator's skull. Winston suffered a minor injuries but is doing okay. pic.twitter.com/GA4g4da1pt
— NRA (@NRA) March 9, 2023
The NRA used the man’s testimony to collect signatures for a petition supporting the “NRA-backed Constitutional Carry” bill currently making its way through the Florida legislature.
Prominent gun freedom opponent Shannon Watts mocked the organization’s opportunistic post, tweeting: “The NRA didn’t post a single tweet about the nearly 400 armed police officers who were unable to stop a teen with an assault rifle from murdering 19 children and two educators in a Uvalde elementary school. But Winston is alive so…”
NEW THIS WEEK: Permitless Carry Not Enough for Gun Owners Who Say DeSantis Supports Open Carry
Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis said he would sign a bill that allowed for open carry if it made it to his desk. The NRA-backed proposal currently making its way through the Florida Legislature would permit Floridians to carry handguns without a special license, but does not allow for open carry.
