JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than 200 new laws will go into effect in Florida on Saturday, and one of the new laws will allow guns to be carried almost anywhere in the state, without a permit.
Police agencies across Florida are urging people to know the rules about what you can and can’t do with firearms, which is information you would typically learn in a concealed carry class, but starting tomorrow, that won’t be required.
The change is part of a larger bill (HB 543) championed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled state Legislature.
There are places, however, where you still cannot carry a gun:
- You absolutely cannot bring your gun onto a flight, unless, of course, it’s in your checked luggage
- Schools, colleges or universities
- Bars, courthouses, and government meetings
- Any private business where the property owner has prohibited them
As a reminder, guns must still be concealed from view, which means they should be in a hidden holster, bag, or purse. Open carry is still illegal in the state of Florida. Unless you’re a law enforcement officer, you can only openly carry a firearm if you’re engaged in or traveling to or from fishing, hunting, camping, or target shooting.
RELATED: Police prepare for permitless carry, which takes effect July 1 in Florida
Under the new law, convicted felons and those with injunctions against them still can’t own or carry firearms. Those without a permit will also have a three-day waiting period when buying a handgun.
Also, if you choose to carry without a permit, as part of the law, you must have a valid ID on you and show it to police if they ask. Although you’re not required, if pulled over, to tell police that you have a firearm on you. They do, however, recommend that you alert an officer if you have a weapon. Medical marijuana card holders are not allowed to conceal carry.
Some local businesses are beginning to see the effects of everyday people anticipating the new law.
“We’ve gotten more calls about people wanting to purchase handguns to carry on them,” said gun store owner Ziadeh Farhat. “We have been getting more calls but we also notice that our classes haven’t really seen any downtick.”
Jacksonville attorney Randy Reep said gun owners need to understand the responsibility of permitless law.
“The liability, the requirement to use the weapon in a reasonable manner remains exactly the same. One of the great concerns is there isn’t the education component that goes into being permitted. So now people will have to rely on their own reading to know what things are not allowed and the restrictions are significant,” Reep said.
In addition, a person could still be sued or face criminal charges. And some new gun owners are still taking gun classes.
“More people are still coming in to take the class even though they are aware that starting in July they are not going to have to be required to take a class or go get a permit,” Farhat said.
Florida becomes the 26th state to implement a permitless carry law, which is sometimes referred to as “constitutional carry.”