Gun laws in Florida regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Florida in the United States.
Florida is a "shall issue" state, and issues concealed carry licenses to both residents and non-residents. Florida recognizes licenses from any other state which recognizes Florida's license, provided the non-resident individual is a resident of the other state and is at least 21 years old or may be under 21 if the applicant is a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces.
Summary table
Making sense out of Florida's new gun bills, which include Open Carry - GunWriterTV, Feb. 9, 2017.
Preemption
Florida law prohibits localities from regulating firearms, other than with regards to zoning laws (i.e., for restricting where gun sellers may locate their businesses). The Florida Legislature has since 1987 occupied the whole field of regulation of firearms and ammunition, including the purchase, sale, transfer, taxation, manufacture, ownership, possession, and transportation. Due to a lack of penalties associated with violating the preemption statute, it was almost universally ignored by city and county authorities until, on December 7, 2010, Representative Matt Gaetz introduced a bill to the Florida Legislature adding penalties for violating the existing preemption statute. It was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott on June 2, 2011. Penalties may include fines, removal from public office, termination of employment and other punishments.
Concealed carry
Firearms regulations are uniform throughout Florida, and a carry license is valid everywhere other than in a few specially-defined areas. These prohibited places include any police station, prison, courthouse, polling place, government meeting place, airport, seaport, or tavern. Concealed carry is also prohibited in any school, except for authorized security personnel or armed marshals.
Anyone lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, may briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.
Currently, Florida's Concealed Weapon License is one of the most widely recognized, state-issued concealed weapon license. The resident Florida Concealed Weapon License is recognized in thirty-five different states, while the non-resident Florida Concealed Weapon License is recognized in thirty states.
"Concealed firearm" is defined in F.S.S.790.001(2) as "any firearm, as defined in subsection (6), which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person."
Unlicensed concealed carry is allowed during a mandatory evacuation as a result of a state of emergency.
As of 2018, some school employees may choose to receive special training in order to carry a firearm at school.
Open carry
Open carry when on foot in a public area is generally illegal, but is permitted in certain circumstances, as defined by Florida statute 790.25(3). For example, open carry is permitted while hunting, fishing, camping, gun shows, or while shooting, and while going to and from such activities. The open carry ban statute was challenged in court but the ban was upheld.
Vehicle carry
Vehicle carry without a license when the weapon is not immediately accessible/available for use is permitted.
Handguns must be either "securely encased" -F.S.S.790.25(3)(l) Some cite this as a grey area or risky- or not immediately available for use. "Securely encased" means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access. Carry of a Handgun on one's person inside a vehicle without a license is not permitted (except in the case of open carry in accordance with the law outlined above). Once a handgun is securely encased, it can be stored anywhere inside the vehicle and is not limited to just the glove compartment/center console.
Long guns may be anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use.
As of July 1, 2008, Florida became a "Take your gun to work" state (F.S. 790.251). This law prohibits most businesses from firing any employee for keeping a legal firearm locked in his or her vehicle in the company parking lot. The purpose of the new law is to allow citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights during their commutes to and from work. Exceptions listed in F.S. 790.251(7) include school property, correctional institutions, nuclear power plants, national defense facilities, facilities for explosives or combustible materials, or a motor vehicle owned, rented, or leased by a person's employer.
A case was filed against Walt Disney World Resort by a former Disney security guard who was fired, despite having a CWL, for having a firearm locked in his car on July 1, in violation of Disney's pre-existing no weapons allowed policy. The case was later dropped by the plaintiff citing personal and financial reasons. Disney claims that they are exempt from the new state law, on the basis of their having a fireworks license for conducting nightly fireworks shows at Disney World.
Castle doctrine and "stand your ground"
"Castle doctrine" refers to the generally accepted common-law principle that one is not required to retreat when in one's own dwelling. Eliminating the requirement to retreat outside the home (i.e. in public) is generally referred to as a "stand your ground" law. As of October 1, 2005, Florida became a "No Duty to Retreat" (i.e. Stand Your Ground) state. Florida Castle Doctrine law establishes that law-abiding residents and visitors may legally presume the threat of bodily harm or death from anyone who breaks into a residence or occupied vehicle and may use defensive force, including deadly force, against the intruder. With the passage of Florida's Stand Your Ground law, this principle now also applies in any other place where a person "has a right to be." Essentially, that person has "no duty to retreat" if attacked and may "meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony". Note that all of the generally accepted common-law principles of self-defense must still be followed.
A person who uses force within the parameters of the law is immune from criminal prosecution or civil action and cannot be arrested unless a law enforcement agency determines there is probable cause that the force used was unlawful. If a civil action is brought and the court finds the defendant to be immune under the law, the defendant will be awarded all costs of defense.
Firearm sales
As of 2018, one must be at least 21 years old to purchase any firearm in Florida. Florida law does not restrict private firearms transfers between Florida residents.
The Florida Constitution, Art VIII Sec. 5(b), permits counties to enact ordinances that require a criminal history records check and a 3 to 5-day waiting period when any part of a firearm sale is conducted on property to which the public has the "right of access", such as at a gun show conducted on public property. These local option ordinances may not be applied to holders of a concealed weapons license. As of 2018, this waiting period applies to all counties, with exceptions for concealed weapons licensees, hunters, military, and law enforcement. Prior, only Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, and Volusia counties had enacted such ordinances.
Other laws
Under Florida's red flag law, the police can get judicial approval to confiscate, for up to a year, the firearms of a person deemed a danger to themselves or others.
The possession of a bump stock is illegal. This is a gun stock that can be used to increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle.
See also
- Gun law in the United States
- Law of Florida
- Marion Hammer