Gun laws in Florida

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) and as provided for in the Florida Constitution in regards to regulating sales by non-licensed sellers in public forums.[5] 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.[6] Penalties may include fines, removal from public office, termination of employment and other punishments,[7] however the penalties have been ruled unconstitutional.[8]

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 (Inside the passenger terminal and sterile area), seaport, or tavern.[9] Concealed carry is also prohibited in any school, except for authorized security personnel, armed marshals, and, as of 2019, school employees and teachers who have received training.[10][11][12]

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.[13]

Currently, Florida's Concealed Weapon License is one of the most widely recognized, state-issued concealed weapon licenses. 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.[14]

"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."[15]

Unlicensed concealed carry is allowed during a mandatory evacuation as a result of a state of emergency for up to 48 hours, which may be further extended by the governor.[16]

Florida recognizes firearm carry permit issued by numerous other states

As of September 2019, 37 states recognize the Florida concealed carry permit while 13 states do not recognize the Florida permit.[17]

*Must be a Florida resident (**States that have permitless carry but permit recognition law still requires residency)

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 target shooting at a gun range, and while going to and from such activities.[18] The open carry ban statute was challenged in court[19] but the ban was upheld.[20]

Vehicle carry is legal without a license when a handgun is not available for immediate use or on someone's person.

Handguns must be either "securely encased" F.S. 790.25(3)(l) or not immediately available for use.[21] "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.[22] 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. "Yet, pursuant to the unambiguous language of section 790.25(5), even a securely encased weapon does not fall under the private conveyance exception if it is carried on the person. Doughty v. State, 979 So. 2d 1048, 1050 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)(Internal citation marks omitted)

Long guns may be anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use.[23]

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.[24][25]

"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.[26]

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.

Buyers must be at least 21 years old to purchase any firearm in Florida from a licensed vendor.[27] There is a waiting period of the longer of 3 business days or until background checks clear unless the purchaser has a concealed carry permit, is trading in a different firearm, the purchase is for a rifle or shotgun and the purchaser has completed a 16-hour hunter safety class in addition to holding a hunter safety certification card, or the purchaser is law enforcement or military.[4]

As state law on waiting periods and background checks do not apply to sales by non-licensed sellers, 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 for non-licensed sellers when any part of a firearm sale is conducted on property to which the public has the "right of access",[28] 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.[4] Only Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, and Volusia counties had enacted such ordinances.[29]

Under Florida's red flag law, law enforcement can get judicial approval to confiscate, for up to a year, the firearms of a person deemed a danger to themselves or others.[30][31] Some counties have adopted Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions in response.[32][33]

The possession of a bump stock is illegal. According to Florida Law, the term “bump-fire stock” means a conversion kit, a tool, an accessory, or a device used to alter the rate of fire of a firearm to mimic automatic weapon fire or which is used to increase the rate of fire to a faster rate than is possible for a person to fire such semiautomatic firearm unassisted by a kit, a tool, an accessory, or a device. (F.S. 790.222)

• Gun law in the United States
• Law of Florida
• Marion Hammer