This article contains information about where to find details about Florida’s firearms laws and is not intended to be legal advice.
The issue of firearms owned and carried by private citizens is being debated in Florida from the panhandle to the Keys, and we hope something is done to make living in Florida safer for everyone. Because we deal with safety on Florida’s roadways we are sometimes asked about the legality of carrying weapons in a vehicle, and we find there is a lot of uncertainty about what is and is not permitted.
Florida is one state that permits people to carry a concealed weapon and it is Florida Statute 790.06 “License to carry concealed weapon or firearm” that covers that permitting. The Chapter that covers everything you could ever want to know about firearms in Florida is Chapter 790: Weapons and Firearms – and it’s a very, very long and complicated set of definitions, descriptions, laws, and penalties. If you’re going to be a firearm owner in Florida and you want to remain on the right side of the law we suggest you become very familiar with this chapter. A nationwide survey of firearms instructors found that many of them do not understand the firearm laws in their own state. As of 2017 there have been 16.3 million concealed weapon permits issued in the United States.
Click here to read Chapter 790, Florida Statutes.
Most people don’t know that in Florida, carrying pepper spray in more than a specified volume (2 oz.) of chemical requires a CCW (carrying a concealed weapon) permit, whereas anyone may legally carry a smaller, “self-defense chemical spray” device hidden on their person without a CCW permit.
Regarding carrying a weapon in your vehicle, this is a question commonly asked, but rarely able to be answered. You may keep, with or without a license, a firearm in your “private conveyance”, otherwise known as a vehicle if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use,” and as you can imagine the terms “securely encased” and “readily accessible” are subject to interpretation.
We do know that carrying a weapon in a vehicle sometimes leads to road rage incidents escalating to very dangerous levels, as in these two recent Florida situations:
Police: Florida man pointed 2 guns during road rage incident.
Gun-wielding, drunk 76-year-old driver arrested after road rage incident, deputies say.
We don’t give legal advice on our website, we just want Florida drivers to exercise good judgement and common sense when it comes to carrying weapons. Read and understand the law, because ignorance of the law is not an acceptable defense. Never mix weapons or driving with alcohol or drugs.
We work with victims of serious car crashes every day and our goal is to see that every client receives the maximum compensation for their injuries and damages as permitted by law. If you have been involved in an accident, please feel free to call us at 954-356-0006 if you have any questions about how to proceed. We will be happy to set up a confidential consultation and discuss your options.
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