Senate lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that would allow gun owners who don't have concealed weapon permits to take their guns with them during emergency evacuations.

Currently under Florida law, only people with concealed weapon permits are allowed to carry their guns in public in the event of a mandatory evacuation.

The measure drew heated debate from both sides, ultimately culminating in the approval of a bill written by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg.

"You can put it in the glovebox of your car and that's not concealed, but if you have it in certain other portions of your car it may be considered concealed," he said. "So, I think it's just really trying to deal with those technicalities to make sure that we don't charge Floridians who are law abiding, who are just simply trying to comply with a mandatory evacuation, with a felony."

In the midst of chaos, guns can be comforting presence, but they can also be deadly. Critics worry about potentially fatal overreactions inside places like shelters.

Ten Democrats voted "no" on the bill. They argued that if there's any time a concealed weapon permit ought to be required, it's during an evacuation, when emotions can run high, leading to lapses in judgment by people who don't have the training required to carry a gun in public.

What's more, Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, said a permit is also proof of ownership.

"We're creating a situation when there are downed power lines, high waters, high winds, everyone's safety is threatened, that the law enforcement agencies now have to try to determine if the person who possesses the gun is lawfully entitled to have it," she said.

There's no question that would be a challenge. It's one lawmakers have to weigh against the challenge of the public safety vacuum that can be left in the wake of a major disaster.

The Florida House of Representatives still has to pass the gun bill. It's expected to pass there as well.