A vote may be coming soon:

Florida Considers “Open Carry” Gun Law « CBS Miami

How about that sheriff who said he would shoot anyone he saw wearing a gun?

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No life story has happy end.

What's so great about open carry?

Smoke and mirrors with a side of paranoia ....
Last I heard it was not going to happen as they focus a provision that protects accidental open carry by legal CCW holders....
Of course the liberal rags in my area are scaring people to death with the rumour that gunslingers are coming to town...

BTW, Waaay back in 1987 Florida had open carry ... Janet Reno's Ban on Open Carry in Florida | Examiner.com

I recall open carrying my Colt MK IV series 80 Combat Commander that year ....
I do not recall panic in the streets or even anyone looking at me twice.

About to be killed in committee so will not happen. Shame. Whats the big deal, well if you somehow accidentally expose your concealed weapon you can be charged with a crime. You bend over, your jacket swings open and for a second your gun is exposed etc etc. Happens. Had the bill with its amendment passed that brief accidental exposure would not have been a crime like it is now. I don't think most ccw holders would have gone around with totally exposed firearms but we all would have been protected for that occasional unplanned exposure

I'm not too concerned about full open carry. I can open carry in Florida if I'm hunting, fishing or camping. If I'm shopping at Walmart or Publix I don't want to do open carry. No open carry at work, so what's the point? I'd rather go about my business fully armed and completely ignored.

Id love to see it pass. Im a florida native and it would be a lot easier to carry in the 10 month summer

What's so great about concealed carry? Sounds like something the Brady Bunch would ask. If we don't support people's right to carry, it may sound to others that we support gun control. Let's support everyone's right to carry - however THEY feel comfortable.

Another lifer Florida. Boy . Not really oppose to open, but always. stay with concealed. for me. Only problem I hope. that open would not bring out the Barney Fife folks

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Spin The Wheel

i'd be all for it. would i do it? no. i am however behind anyone who would choose to do it. i just like the the advantage of the other guy having to guess if i'm a good target or not. rather keep 'em guessing.

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why? why not?

This is why I'm glad Texas passed open carry. I'm still carrying concealed, as are most Texans.

The Florida Statutes state in part:
“It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm as provided in s.790.06(1), and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to 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.”

From what I’ve heard, there has been a problem with uninformed law enforcement officers detaining or arresting folks who inadvertently displayed their concealed firearm. There has been discussion about beefing-up the statute’s language to address inadvertent or unintentional display or “printing” to protect concealed permit holders from spurious prosecution but allowing true open carry would seem to make that issue a moot point.

To me the existing state statute language seems to cover the unintentional or momentary exposure of a concealed firearm but at the same time I wouldn’t want to be arrested by an over-zealous officer and then have to go thru the pain and expense of proving I was “legal” under the statute. (As a police officer friend once said: “You may beat the rap but you’re gonna take the ride”).

If open carry does pass I’d still opted for concealed carry. The less people know about me the better I like it.

As of now I believe OC is legal in 45 states. Why haven't we heard thousands of stories of OC people being killed at the beginning of every robbery or shooting themselves and others due to the mode of carry. How many of them have been targeted for their openly visible guns? It would seem from all of the doom and gloom the naysayers put out there shouldn't be but one or two people left who OC on a regular basis because all of the rest have been neutralized at the beginning of any trouble.

Besides, there are plenty of people who conceal who really don't do a good job at it, just sayin'.

As a wise and enlightened man from Georgia said "If we don't support people's right to carry, it may sound to others that we support gun control. Let's support everyone's right to carry - however THEY feel comfortable."


bob

Open carry is not a good idea in Florida. 1. too many stupid people trying to impress others.2. too many stupid people that think they know the law(s).3. too many stupid people that will open carry and then some thug(black or white or any color) can take their weapon. As stated above... keep them guessing and conceal it.

How do you know this? Prior OC experience in Florida...oh wait...you don't have that do you? Because it has happened everywhere else that has OC...cites please. Sounds like a like of assumptions on your part, my 2 coppers worth.



bob

I decline to address 1 and 2. As for 3., the scenario you describe simply doesn't happen. There is exactly one incident that shows up when using a search engine, wherein an arguably stupid person open carried in a bad neighborhood at 2 a.m., and was promptly relieved of his pistol by another person with a gun. Your statement is often proclaimed, but just cannot be sustained by the facts. . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I had a long talk with one of our local officers with years on the force about this subject. It presents a couple of issues. One is there will be a certain number of idiots that will think open carry means it's a good idea to sling an AR over your shoulder and walk through Walmart pretending to be a badass. You will also have people carelessly carrying a weapon in a non-retention holster that can easily be taken from them. I'm a supporter but I think the law may need to be fine-tuned a bit to work. In general, the police here support concealed carry but not open.

It is all just assumptions not fact. Most likely within a year it will be a non issue if and hopefully open carry is again reinstated.

Seems pretty clear that unintentional exposure is already not against the law in Florida. So for those concerned about law enforcement not understanding the Statute, why not focus focus efforts on education?

Seems like open carry could create confusion for first responders in an emergency situation. Any current or former LEOs with an opinion on this?

Wow underwear getting twisted in knots again.Didnt this just happen in Texas. And I haven't heard of problems there I predict when it happens in Fl it will be a non event just like anywhere it has happened.
The main problem I see in Fl is all the transplants from the north who moved there.But then want to make things just like where they came from.

Where open carry has aways been legal, it just isn't that big of a thing. In NC OC is legal with no permit and I can remember seeing 3 people carrying open in the past several years.

I'm confused. When I was first contemplating carrying, I researched the laws in Florida and other states. I was directed to handgunlaw.us. In section 790.053, it states " It is not a violation for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm, who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to 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." Am I reading this wrong or is this web site incorrect?

I should have read all the above posts. I see a few others have already made my point.

I live in Texas in an area that has over 200,000 people. I have not seen one person open carry or talked to anyone who has and I have asked. No opinion, just a comment'

What's so great about concealed? It's concealed, that's what. That means no one else knows I'm armed, which gives me the element of surprise.

No, it doesn't sound like a Brady Bunch question. It's a simple question that has nothing to do with anyone's "right to carry". I'm not disputing anyone's right to carry, just asking why anyone would want to open carry.

Note, also, that the only people who will be allowed to open carry in Florida are the people who already have a valid concealed carry permit, which is another point in concealed carry's favor. Florida gun owners will have to have one in order to do the other.

If someone in Florida already has the concealed carry permit, being able to open carry is immaterial regarding being able to defend yourself.

It's different where I live, simply because in this state, we don't need a permit or license to open carry. North Carolina has had open carry since I-don't-know-when. And except for people out in the woods (hunters, hikers, etc.), some convenience store clerks, and sales people at gun shops, I don't see folks doing the open carry thing around here.

And no, I don't open carry.

A nice exotic Threeperson's with retention and matching
alligator gunbelt would fit right in, don't ya think?


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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Or, considering the problem Florida's having with them, something fancy made from python?

While I don't have anything against OC it's not for me. I prefer to go along quietly under the radar and OC, at least where I live (it is legal here), brings unwanted attention from law enforcement.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I carry in a thumb break everyday. No gun searchers yet

Show me where that happens