OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Florida is changing the way guns are carried in public — starting Sept. 25, people can openly carry firearms in many places across the state.
This shift comes after Florida’s First District Court of Appeal struck down the state’s ban on open carry in a Sept. 10 ruling in the case McDaniels v. State.
A few days later, on Sept. 15, State Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed the decision and told law enforcement to immediately stop arresting or prosecuting law-abiding citizens who openly carry guns.
So even though the change in law is not official until Sept. 25, officers are not supposed to enforce the law.
[WATCH: Appeals court throws out Florida’s open carry ban]
Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon says you should expect to see more people carrying guns openly in public. His office has received many questions about how this will affect police work and public safety.
To prepare, deputies and attorneys are holding Q&A sessions to discuss different “what if” scenarios and how to handle them.
“I’ve always been a fan of concealed carry,” Blackmon said. “That’s how I do it when I’m out. I don’t want to scare anyone. I respect your rights.”
He added that open carry is new territory for law enforcement in Florida, although it exists in many states. “It’s definitely concerning. You hope anyone carrying openly is legal and not up to something bad. It’s a big challenge for officers to approach someone with a visible gun.”
Not everyone is comfortable with the change. Some worry Florida could feel like the “wild, wild west” or the “gunshine state.”
Orange County Sheriff John Mina criticized the ruling, saying, “Just the presence of a heavily armed person in a public place is enough to create a sense of panic.”
Here’s where you can and cannot openly carry firearms in Florida:
Allowed:
- Most public places where carrying guns was previously restricted by the open carry ban
Not allowed:
- Schools
- Courthouses
- Police stations
- Bars
- Private property where the owner prohibits firearms (like grocery stores such as Walmart and Publix or shopping malls). If asked to leave for carrying a weapon and you refuse, it’s considered armed trespassing, which is a felony.
Sheriff Blackmon advises, “If you see a threat, call the police. Otherwise, know your rights and respect the rules.”