Florida –-(Ammoland.com)- Many folks remember that during the fight to pass Florida’s Concealed Carry law, the Florida Sheriffs Association opposed concealed carry.
They literally said they didn’t like “hidden guns.”
At the time, open carry was legal in Florida and had been for decades. They said if people were going to be allowed to carry guns, they needed to carry them openly so law enforcement officers could see them and know who had guns — they claimed it was a matter of officer safety.
Now, they have reversed positions.
They claim concealed carry is fine and they don’t mind concealed guns. BUT, open carry is dangerous. They claim they won’t know the goods guys from the bad guys, and one sheriff (now retired) said law enforcement would have to “draw down” and anybody carrying openly. You’ve probably heard or read most of the rhetoric.
They always lead off saying they are strong Second Amendment supporters, then proceed to explain why they OPPOSE Second Amendment rights.
The Constitution guarantees your right to keep and bear arms and it certainly doesn’t say you can only exercise your rights if your sheriffs agrees with it.
Below are the facts about open carry — it is a rebuttal of some the latest claims You may also click here The Truth About Open Carry to download a copy for the fact sheet to share with others.
The Truth About The Open Carry Bill & the 45 States that Allow Open Carry
In recent Palm Beach Post Blog articles and a Tampa Bay Times Blog article, the Chairman of the Florida Sheriffs Association’s Legislative Committee (FSA) is quoted with some erroneous claims regarding the proposed open carry bill in Florida (SB-300 By Sen. Don Gaetz and HB-163 by Rep. Matt Gaetz).
In recent Palm Beach Post Blog articles and a Tampa Bay Times Blog article, the Chairman of the Florida Sheriffs Association’s Legislative Committee (FSA) is quoted with some erroneous claims regarding the proposed open carry bill in Florida (SB-300 By Sen. Don Gaetz and HB-163 by Rep. Matt Gaetz).
Below are some of those claims and our responses.
FSA CLAIM: “The bill as currently drafted is extremely broad, lacking limits on when, how or where firearms could be carried.”
FACT: The same provisions and restrictions that apply to concealed carry also apply to open carry (s.790.06). Only a person with a license to carry concealed will be able to carry openly. Additionally, the improper exhibition of firearms law (s.790.10) applies whether carrying concealed or openly.
Further, because of these and other erroneous claims, a clarification amendment, to stop open carry opponents from continuing to make such false claims, was added to the bill in Senate Criminal Justice Committee the morning of 10/20/15 – We know the spokesman made that claim even AFTER the clarification amendment was added because the spokesman made reference to an amendment “that didn’t pass” in the same committee meeting.
Since the FSA spokesman obviously doesn’t want to believe the NRA’s data, the following data was provided by Florida Carry, Inc. – and their data confirms ours.
FSA CLAIM: “The bill’s proponents claim that 45 other states already allow open-carry. But that’s not really accurate.”
FACT: To the contrary, it is accurate. Forty-five (45) states allow open carry of firearms. Varying restrictions on open carry in some states does not alter the fact that 45 states allow open carry.
- 15 of 45 open carry states require a license to carry concealed or openly.
- 30 of 45 open carry states do not require any license to carry openly
- 0 of 15 of the concealed carry license states require additional training to carry openly
- 0 of 45 states offer a separate “open carry” license
- 2 of 45 states require an open carry holster. On 1/1/16 Texas will require a holster.
- 0 of 45 states require a retention holster.
- 5 of 15 are “may-issue” states where law enforcement issues licenses
- 15 of 15 states require the license holder to produce the license on lawful demand by a law enforcement officer.
FSA CLAIM: “… most open-carry states have strict rules about … producing the permit on demand.”
FACT: This is a red herring. FLORIDA law already requires license holders to produce a license on demand by a law enforcement officer. And for the record, all 15 states that require a license, require producing the license on lawful demand by a law enforcement officer.
FSA CLAIM: “…[I]t’s ‘intellectually dishonest’ to say open carry laws are working in the 45 other states because there are so many variations in the laws and the demographics.
FACT: The open carry laws are working in 45 states. Opponents have presented no evidence to the contrary – no evidence that it isn’t working in any state and no evidence of problems in any state. These are just baseless allegations. Simply because different states have variations in their laws does not in any way alter the fact that open carry is allowed and that it’s working.
FSA CLAIM: “In Pennsylvania, for example, cities can opt out of its open carry law and some, including Philadelphia, do just that, Gualtieri said. Florida cities don’t have the option to opt out of a state law.”
FACT: Pennsylvania DOES NOT allow cities to opt out of it’s open carry law. Pennsylvania does not require a license for a person to carry openly. Philadelphia cannot “op out” of the state open carry law. Pennsylvania state law allows the city of Philadelphia (and only Philadelphia) to require a license to carry openly in Philadelphia.
FSA CLAIM: As for demographics, “You can’t compare Sioux Falls, S.D. to downtown Miami or downtown Tampa or downtown Orlando,” Gualtieri said.
FACT: This argument is illogical and perhaps intentionally misleading. Seventy percent (70%) of the American public live in open carry states from all regions of the country. Many of the 45 open carry states have large and diverse cities just like Florida and where you live geographically, whether it’s Trilby, FL or Fanning Springs, FL, you have the same constitutional rights as citizens who live in Miami, Tampa, or Orlando.
FSA CLAIM: “…the state’s trespass law gives businesses the right to ask anyone openly carrying a weapon to leave their property,” but they … “will be reluctant to tell a person wearing a .45 to leave.”
FACT: Posting signs prohibiting open carry inside a business establishment is a simple solution. Proper notification will stop citizens from even entering the establishment. Property owners already must post trespass signs to notify the public to stay off private property.
Businesses have the right to refuse service and evict anyone they wish unless it’s done on the basis of race, gender, or religion. Further, it is common to see signs that say, “No shirt, no shoes – no service.” Why are they reluctant to post signs saying , “No open carrying of firearms?”
FSA CLAIM: “..if you are McDonald’s you won’t be able to exclude somebody from putting their gun on the table and sitting there and eating.”
FACT: Again, any business may evict a customer for behavior they deem to be offensive, dangerous or inappropriate. Further it is a criminal offense under s.790.10 to exhibit a firearm in a rude or careless manner.
About:
The Unified Sportsmen of Florida is the premier lobbying organization for Florida hunters, gun owners, collectors, and Second Amendment supporters. Visit: www.flssa.org
Police and sheriff deputies soon learn to recognize the “known” criminals in their areas of patrol. Felons are required by many state laws to check-in when they move. Of course if on parole they are required to make personal appearances. The problem of open carry in urban areas is that the gun is a valuable and easy to sell or use item. Since you can’t draw and shoot every disreputable person[s] you see the bad guy[s] can get within arms reach and prevent your drawing your gun. If you’re in a group and have mutual support, concealed carry is tactically… Read more »
Well, when Tyrone enters the 7/11, with intent to rob it and sees you with a piece on your hip, he is going to say.” I need to shoot this guy first before he sees me.” Not a hand that I want to show him. This would be very dumb in my book!
The 2nd Amendment right, is the crux of independence. Hey, all great societies have fallen, and always FROM WITHIN. Having the 2nd Amendment, is an express utopia, that cannot be relinquished, at any cost. Certain inalienable rights, are what keep this country going, in the face of poor government, that depends upon corporate America for hush, or rage monies. We do not have a proper governmental representation. Laws legislated through out many years serve to isolate the congress and government workers while all the bad decisions are made by the same people that embellish upon themselves, and legislate rules for… Read more »
Stores that post no firearms or no open carried firearms just doesnt get my business . Ever try to carry a 8 inch 454 casull pistol concealed, in those dumbass states that have printing laws with concealed carry laws that prohibit open carry. Why a 454 because we can in Alaska. We have more than just human issues even in the city of Anchorage. Brown Bears , moose , coyotes, black bears , dogs ,wolves are all vistors during the year. My neighbors have had shoot a bad bear that was eating dogs in fenced yards, 6 foot high fences.… Read more »
I’ve carried every day for almost 14 years. I have yet to read a convincing justification for open carry by citizens. And it has many significant problems ignored in this article.
I asked my friends who are cops if they’ve ever witnessed any criminals doing open carry. None said yes. I guess the criminals do not calling attention to themselves.