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What To Know About Florida’s New ‘Permitless Carry’ Law Effective Saturday
July 1, 2023
Beginning Saturday, July 1, you can carry a concealed firearm without a concealed weapons license (CWL) in Florida.
Here is some need-to-know information from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office:
- Although a CWL is not required in Florida beginning July 1, the weapon or firearm must remain concealed from the ordinary sight of another person.
- The minimum age to conceal carry in Florida is 21 years old.
- When conceal carrying a weapon or firearm, you must have a valid form of identification on you at all times.
- To be in possession of a concealed weapon or firearm, you must be a resident and citizen of the U.S. or a permanent resident alien of the U.S.
- A person who is carrying a concealed weapon or firearm cannot be a convicted felon or delinquent.
- A person who is carrying a concealed weapon or firearm cannot suffer from a physical infirmity, which prevents the safe handling of a firearm.
- A person who is carrying a concealed firearm is restricted from carrying the firearm in the same locations/events as a person carrying under a CWL.
- It’s important to be responsible and educated about gun safety.
- You cannot carry your firearm in places where it is unlawful – such as schools, government buildings, airports, and bars.
Comments
38 Responses to “What To Know About Florida’s New ‘Permitless Carry’ Law Effective Saturday”
@Scott Lunsford
I’m curious if spare magazines can be visible?
So if I’m out on the highway driving my car and have a gun in my car and I drive through? a school zone I can be arrested
Yeah, this was really smart!! And of course, all the rules will be carried out to the letter of the law!! Imagine the road rage, bursts of anger, the list goes on…..yeah, really great law!!!!
If yo do not have a Florida concealed weapons license, you cannot carry within 1000 feet of a school. If you have a Florida permit and you are in another state, you cannot carry within 1000 feet of a school of another states schools.
Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act
Congress passed the Federal Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990 (GFSZA) and it was amended in 1995 to prevent guns being carried near schools. It states that one cannot knowingly possess a firearm in a school zone. “School zone” is defined as “in, or on the grounds of, a public, parochial or private school; or within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a public, parochial or private school.” It includes all public roads and sidewalks within that 1,000-foot buffer zone. It does not apply on private property, to a licensed concealed firearm permittee or an unloaded weapon in a locked container/rack. It should be noted that the firearm permittee exemption only applies in the state that issued your permit/license, not any states with reciprocity.
18 U.S. Code § 922(q)
Florida Banned Locations 790.06 Florida Statute
1. Any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05;
2. Any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station;
3. Any detention facility, prison, or jail;
4. Any courthouse;
5. Any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom;
6. Any polling place;
7. Any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district;
8. Any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof;
9. Any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms;
10. Any elementary or secondary school facility or administration building;
11. Any career center;
12. Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;
13. Any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile;
14. The inside of the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or
15. Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law.
Federally Banned Locations
* Federal Courthouses*
* Federal Buildings*
* Any Building Owned, Leased or Rented by the Federal Government — This includes buildings in national forests which are property of the federal government.
* National Forests — There is no federal law prohibiting carry in national forests. States control the carrying of firearms in national forests in their state. However, carry is not allowed buildings in national forests which are property of the federal government.
* Visitors Centers/Ranger Stations in National Parks — These are federal buildings where carry is not allowed. There is no federal law that prohibits carry in national parks. States control the carrying of firearms in national parks in their state.
* Sterile areas of Airports -An individual may not have a weapon on or about the individual’s person or accessible property when entering or in a sterile area of an airport or when attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted.
* Federal Prisons*
* U.S. Army Corps of Engineers* — The Corps builds and runs flood control and navigation dams. The Corps has jurisdiction over the dam site and usually all waters backed up by the dam. Per 36 CFR § 327.13, carry anywhere on Corps property is illegal unless written permission has been received from the District Commander. Firearms can be unloaded and secured in a vehicle while on Corps property.
* National Cemeteries*
* Military Bases — All military bases are Federal property. Each base may have slightly different policies, however visitors who arrive at a military base with firearm(s) must leave them with the guards at the gate. If the base does not have storage capabilities at the gate or armory, you could be turned away. The only people who can carry guns around a base—concealed or otherwise—are on-duty military police, who handle routine security. They then have to return their guns to the armory when their shifts are over. There are exceptions for on-duty local or state police officers who come to the base on official business. The base commander can make other exceptions. Check at each military post for specific rules. Exception-Active duty military police, criminal investigators, and Marine Corps law enforcement program police officers may conceal carry personally owned weapons while on base while off-duty as long as they comply with the 2016 Department of Defense Directive, title “Arming and the Use of Force”.
* Rented Offices — Any part of any building that the federal government has rented for office space or a federal workforce, etc. Just their offices or the part of the building the federal government has control over is off-limits. You can carry in the rest of the building if state or local laws allow.
* Post Office — Postal regulations prohibit the possession of firearms in their buildings and in their parking lots or any property they own.
* Bureau of Land Management (BLM)* — On most BLM lands, if you can legally carry in the state the BLM land is in, you can carry on the BLM land. If it is not legal, the area will be posted as no firearms allowed. Any building on the BLM land operated by the federal government is considered federal property and carry in those buildings is not allowed. The exceptions where the BLM prohibits firearms are the San Pedro Riparian Zone in Arizona, the Wallace Conservation Forest in Idaho and Red Rock National Conservation Area in Nevada.
* Indian Reservations — Carry on Indian Reservations is controlled by tribal law. You must check with each tribe before carrying on the property. Some Indian tribes consider federal and state highways through their property as under their control. This should also be verified with the tribe.
* This includes parking lots adjacent to, or part of, the facility if the federal entity owns or has control of the parking lot and it is posted “No Firearms.” The lot has to be posted under federal law (below) if they do not wish to have firearms present.
Possession in Federal Facilities
It is illegal to possesses a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility. However, there are exceptions for:
* Authorized officers, agents, & employees of the United States, a State, or political subdivisions;
* Authorized federal officials or a members of the Armed Forces; and
* The lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
The term “Federal facility” means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.
Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act
Congress passed the Federal Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990 (GFSZA) and it was amended in 1995 to prevent guns being carried near schools. It states that one cannot knowingly possess a firearm in a school zone. “School zone” is defined as “in, or on the grounds of, a public, parochial or private school; or within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a public, parochial or private school.” It includes all public roads and sidewalks within that 1,000-foot buffer zone. It does not apply on private property, to a licensed concealed firearm permittee or an unloaded weapon in a locked container/rack. It should be noted that the firearm permittee exemption only applies in the state that issued your permit/license, not any states with reciprocity.
18 U.S. Code § 922(q)
Okey, how will this new law affect the purchase of a new pistol from a reputable dealer, with a CCL I can walk in, purchase a pistol and walk out with it, without a CCL I would have to wait 3 days to walk out with a pistol.
@ Anne to respond to your comment….Can you tell me where I can go that a criminal or someone up to no good might not be? IT can be unsafe to go] to a Dental or Doctor appointment. How about Church or your child’s school activity? We can’t stay home all the time . Even the grocery store is unsafe.
My concern is the criminal element will use this for no good and ruin it for those of us that are to some degree law abiding, because most of us violate speed laws and parking signs.
One of my concerns is that the wild west is coming back. Settle your disputes with a gun!
besides the already existing criminals out there, it’s bad enough that you have hateful morons behind the wheel, now those same morons have been given the ok to carry… more danger for LEO’s.
@BigBlock345
I have a right to freedom of speech. I can’t make death threats or spread libel/slander. My right to freedom of speech is limited in the interest of public safety.
I have right to freedom of religion. I can’t perform human sacrifices on an altar I built in my front yard. My right to freedom of speech is limited in the interest of public safety.
I have the right to bear arms. So tell me, why is this the *only* Constitutional right that apparently cannot be limited in the interest of public safety?
Seriously. This bill is stupid. It’s going to get innocent people killed. And some of the mouth-breathing morons in our community are actually dense enough to cheer for it.
As far as I am concerned, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution already afforded me the right to bear arms, just like it has every other person that is legally allowed to carry. It just took Florida 178 years to get up to speed.
@anne, I’ve had a CWL for many years now. About 10 years ago me and my elderly mother were walking to my car in the Walmart parking lot in Ensley. I had to park way out in the parking lot, I noticed two young men, probably teenagers walk across about two lanes and turn directly toward us, not to the side but directly at us. It was during the winter and when the young men got about 30 feet from us, one of them opened his jacket so we could see a large knife he was carrying. I pull my jacket back and put my hand on the .45 caliber Glock I was carrying. The decided they were in the wrong lane immediately. So according to you, me and mother had no business being at Walmart but the two punks with the large knife looking to rob or hurt someone did have a right to be there.
Or people that still value and believe they have GOD given birth rights. Personally, I have over 20yrs of permitted carry and professional firearms training. SO, I’d say I’m good. And “There will be people carrying that have NEVER fired a gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” This is accepted to already happen on a daily basis by anybody with at least three brain cells to rub together….So this law changes none of that.
@KE.”And remember permitless carry is only for Florida residents.”
You might want to research that.
It says US resident.
Years after a victim is buried, forgotten and his goods distributed, a killer, if caught lives for years on taxpayer’s receiving his daily bread, his shelter, medical and clothing. If we went back to swift and sure justice with severe penalties and long-term incarceration, there would be less need to carry a weapon for protection of life, property and family. “It is better to be judged by twelve than it is to be carried by six.” I think a person should be armed not only for his own protection but for the deterrent it affords to the weak, the elderly and the undersized.
Anne, a gun is not carried because you think you will need it. It is carried like any other tool because you may have a use for it. In recent years, many people have thought they didn’t need protection in shopping malls, schools, and even churchs. They were wrong!
@ A.W. Thompson
This has been the law in Alabama for years. Florida just followed suit.
And remember permitless carry is only for Florida residents.
Just because Alabama and Florida are reciprocal with each other does not mean that you can conceal carry in Florida if you’re in Alabama resident without a permit.
The same is true for Florida residents in Alabama. You must have the actual concealed carry permit to get reciprocity.
That means if you want to carry somewhere outside of Florida, you better get a Florida concealed weapons license.
Of interest:
In the state of Alabama you can carry a concealed firearm even on property where the business owner or the private property owner has posted that it is prohibited.
The only thing they can do is ask you to leave if they find out your carrying.
@BigBlock345
I am perfectly fine with people carrying a concealed weapon for protection if they are properly trained to be safe and responsible with their firearms.
This bill removes that requirement.
The only people that support legislation like this are idiots, and people who are too lazy and irresponsible to be trusted with owning a gun. So which are you?
If someone carrying for personal protection bothers YOU. Maybe YOU should stop screwing with people or trying to harm others. Law or no law. People have been carrying a weapon for personal protection since the beginning of time. The only people this bothers are those that WISH to do others harm, and cowards. So which are you?
I highly doubt this law will change anything. Stupid people will continue to do stupid things. The law in my opinion is nothing more than a warning to dumb criminals that the odds of dying for their crimes are going up. Where we come from guns are like shoes. Everyone’s wearing something for protection.
Nowadays you better have it with you everywhere you go.Alabama needs to follow suit.It just evens your odds of survival if you are carjacked,robbed,or assualted.Stay locked and loaded friends because the thugs are packing some kinda firepower.A.W Thompson
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. One fire out of anger can ruin your life.
@Curious Don’t feel bad I had to read that one twice before I understood it as well lol.
@Anne You mean like a school? Or a Walmart? A Park? A restaurant? On the road? Because you see there have been shootings at all those places so I feel it would be irresponsible for me not to carry protection not just for my sake but also for the public at large.
What Curious asked. Did not make sense to me either.
Law should not have pasted, because everyone carrying should be trained/educated on how to use the weapon. There will be people carrying that have NEVER fired a gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Curious- it means you are restricted from carrying in certain places just like a person who is in possession of a CWL. Basically you have to follow the same rules.
@curious – In most cases they wouldn’t. Do not misconstrue the right to carry a concealed weapon with the right to use a concealed weapon. If you are breaking the law by carrying when you shouldn’t, nothing in this statute will keep you from being charged with a felony if you use the weapon in that situation. And just carrying it could be a felony, depending on where that is.
Ditto on what Curious said.
If you feel you need a gun where you are going, stay home.
“restricted from carrying the firearm in the same locations/events as a person carrying under a CWL” I think that could have been worded better but means the same location restriction apply, such as the places listed in the last point.
@Curious
It means the same laws apply that a CWL holder has.
And I always assume everybody is armed.
The law is great for those that want to conceal carry, as I do. However, at least take a concealed carry class. Besides making sure you can use your firearm safely, it will go over the stand your ground laws. That information can mean the difference between freedom or jail.
Lastly, a cop pulled me over and I gave him my CWL. He said it’s the only I’d you can give an officer that shows you’re not a criminal, meaning you’re less likely to be a bad guy, so to speak.
Need clariication: “A person who is carrying a concealed firearm is restricted from carrying the firearm in the same locations/events as a person carrying under a CWL.”
How would one know if another person was carrying a “concealed” weapon ????
@donald … a permanent resident alien is someone who has lawfully immigrated and has received a green card. I’m sure there are others that fit in this category as well.
What is a permanent resident alien of the US?
Thugs pay attention the guy you rob may give you a Dirt Nap.
Coming to a WalMart near you, the OK Corral.