In a significant development for Second Amendment enthusiasts, Florida has taken a bold step toward upholding individual liberties by becoming the most recent state to allow its citizens to carry concealed firearms without a government-issued permit.
This move places the Sunshine State alongside 25 others that have already embraced the practice known as “concealed carry.”
However, it is important to note that Floridians must still meet certain requirements, including passing a background check and adhering to a three-day waiting period for gun purchases.
This legislative change, signed into law by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in April and effective as of July 1, solidifies Florida’s commitment to the constitutional rights of its residents.
The measure also removes the previous state mandate for training in order to carry a concealed weapon.
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Governor DeSantis, who recently declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race, emphasized the importance of not needing government permission to exercise Second Amendment rights during a campaign event.
The decision to eliminate the requirement for a permit aligns with conservative values of limited government intervention and the promotion of personal responsibility.
As Sheriff’s Office Chief of Patrol Jaime Eason rightly noted, law-abiding citizens have always been the ones acquiring concealed weapons licenses, and the new law does not change this fact.
Furthermore, the recently enacted law extends its provisions to Florida visitors and non-residents who are U.S. citizens aged 21 and above.
This demonstrates the state’s commitment to preserving individual liberties for all law-abiding individuals within its borders.
However, it is important to recognize that federal law designates certain locations where carrying a concealed firearm is prohibited, including U.S. post offices and their parking lots.
David Katz, co-founder of the Firearm Firm, underlines the limited scope of the law’s application, noting that certain venues remain off-limits for concealed carry. These include bars, detention facilities, polling places, school district meeting places, county and state government meeting venues, and courthouses. Nevertheless, judges maintain the discretion to carry concealed weapons within their courtrooms or to make determinations regarding who may carry them.
