When the state’s new firearm legislation becomes effective on July 1, gun owners will be allowed to carry concealed without a license.
Prior to the passage of HB 543, a background check, a license, and training were required to carry a concealed firearm.
“You can carry in your own home, place of business or employment or in a motor vehicle securely encased,” said David Katz, co-founder of the Firearm Firm and author of Florida Gun Law: Armed and Educated. “You can also carry in a grocery store, a convenience store, and the liquor store.”
Florida is the 26th to become a permit-free concealed carry state however it’s still illegal to openly carry a gun statewide with restrictions remaining in gun-free school zones, according to media reports.
“The term school zone means in or on the ground zone of a public, parochial or private school or within a distance of 1000 feet from the grounds of an elementary or secondary public, parochial or private school,” Katz said.
But the law does allow a firearm to be carried in a school parking lot if it is concealed in either a secured, locked container or when it is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use.
“If a person has a Florida CWFL, they can only carry through Florida school zones,” Katz said. “If that Florida CWFL holder is traveling through another state, the exception under federal law does not apply to them.”
Despite the law permitting concealed carry statewide, some common places are prohibited by federal law, such as the post office.
“This includes the entire property including the parking lot,” Katz said. “You cannot have a firearm in the parking lot of the post office federal facilities, which are buildings or parts thereof owned or leased by the federal government where federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their duties.”
Other federally prohibited locations include Veteran Affairs hospitals and facilities as well as any place of nuisance under Section 82305, such as police, sheriff or highway patrol stations and detention facilities.
"Any courthouse, any courtroom except that a judge may carry a concealed weapon or determine who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom," Katz added. "Any polling place, any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality or special district are off limits and any meeting of the legislature or committee thereof."
The new law does not address the issue of gun signs and whether signs have any legal effect when there is an incident.
"We, therefore, tell you to treat gun signs as if they do have legal effect," Katz added.