Open Carry in Florida

As of right now, October 7, 2015, Florida does not allow open carry of firearms.  Florida probably has some of the best laws and regulations regarding concealed carry, and has done so for quite some time.

However, on October 6 of 2015, the first round of Florida House Bill 163 was passed with an 8 to 4 vote, and it in will allow those with concealed carry permits to open carry in the state.

“Weapons and Firearms; Provides for construction of statutes that implicate right to bear arms or engage in self-defense; specifies that law enforcement officer may arrest person for unlicensed carrying of concealed weapon only upon probable cause that such violation is being committed; provides that person licensed to carry concealed weapon may also openly carry such firearm or weapon; provides liability for person or entity who infringes on specified rights; provides exception; provides that certain persons & entities have no immunity; revises legislative findings concerning possession & carrying of weapons & firearms; revises provisions concerning construction of provisions.”

This bill, which was originally filed on September 14 of 2015, doesn’t mean you can go out carrying your AK-47 for all to see.  This is not yet going into play until 2016.  Florida Statute 790.053 still says that it is illegal to open carry, so don’t run out doing so.

Nothing else has really been released, but we could assume that where you can open carry will be the same laws regarding where you can carry concealed.  For Florida, that would pretty much be anywhere besides schools and school zones, government buildings, places of nuisance, the portion of a place that sells alcohol, and so on.  For a complete list of concealed carry dos and don’ts for the state of Florida, check out Florida Statute 790.06.

What are your views on open carry?  For me, I’m not going to be doing it.  I prefer and will continue to carry concealed.  In my opinion, open carry makes you a target for bad people and idiots.  It may also scare people since firearm negativity is so prevalent in the news these days.  I’d rather be able to help stop a panic caused by a bad guy with my concealed firearm than start one with my open carry firearm.  Also, some people are just pretending to be something they are not by open carrying.

Does anyone who openly carries fit that description?  Absolutely not.  If you choose to open carry to support the Second Amendment, go for it.  It’s just not my cup of tea.  However, that’s just my opinion, and given the opportunity, I WOULD vote to allow open carry to give people the choice.  That is what makes this country great: freedom to vote and make the country we want, and of course, firearms!

Be safe, and be smart!

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Cover background image courtesy of Huffington Post.