CURRENT LAW

 

Florida was once open carry. In October of 1987, after several years of trying to pass a concealed carry bill in the state legislature, a back door deal between political parties was made to pass the bill. That deal, and the price all Floridians would pay, was to restrict open carrying in Florida in exchange for instituting a conceal carry permit bureaucracy. From that day forward, Floridians partly lost one of their rights. Additionally, in an obvious attempt to generate revenue for the state, the new law required citizens simply carrying pepper spray or stun guns to obtain a concealed carry permit

In fact, 43 states allow the increasingly common "open carry" of handguns in public, in most states at age 18 without any permit. Florida is one of only 7 states generally banning open carry.

You are limited while open carrying your legally purchased handgun in the fine state of Florida. This is covered under Florida Statute FS 790.053. There are exceptions to the statute. It is legal to open carry when hunting, fishing, trapping, and while at work. This is covered under FS 790.25(3)(h), (j) and (k). "Anyone, while fishing, camping, or hunting....or while going to, or coming from fishing, camping, or hunting is exempt from the prohibition on open carry."