Florida Is Now the 26th USA State That Allows Permitless Carrying of Concealed Firearms

More than half of the USA now allows the concealed carry of firearms without the need for a permit or license from the government.

Florida became the 26th state when Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Bill CS/HB 543–Public Safety into law April 3, 2023 that eliminates the requirement for an individual to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm. The 26 Constitutional Carry states now are

Read the Crime Prevention Research Center article, Florida Becomes the 26th Constitutional Carry State

  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arkansas
  4. Arizona
  5. Florida
  6. Georgia
  7. Idaho
  8. Indiana
  9. Iowa
  10. Kansas
  11. Kentucky
  12. Maine
  13. Mississippi
  14. Missouri
  15. Montana
  16. New Hampshire
  17. North Dakota
  18. Ohio
  19. Oklahoma
  20. South Dakota
  21. Tennessee
  22. Texas
  23. Utah
  24. Vermont
  25. West Virginia
  26. Wyoming.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, USA State Constitutions Providing for Armed Self-Defense ]

The new law, which also includes knives and which takes effect July 1, 2023, ends a historically racist policy. The reasons to restrict citizens from carrying arms in public today mirror the same racially motivated talking points made nearly 150 years ago when gun control was first codified in Florida, according to Gun Owners of America (GOA).

Florida’s gun control can be traced to the 1880s, when Confederate sympathizers regained control of the state legislature after Reconstruction. They amended the state constitution to regulate the carrying of firearms under law. The reasoning behind this was to push the Black Codes under Jim Crow and disarm an influx of black laborers.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 12 Reasons to Responsibly Carry a Defensive Gun Every Day ]

The new law allows all law-abiding Florida adults 21 and older to carry a concealed weapon or handgun without seeking a Concealed Weapon or Firearm License (CWFL) from the government. However, the state’s current CWFL program will remain in effect. Today, more than 2.4 million Floridians have a CWFL.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense Training Directory ]

The new law does not include a training requirement, which was a major concern for its critics. But neither does it change who is eligible to either purchase or carry a firearm. Its proponents say it “levels the playing field” for law abiding Floridians.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Directory of Firearm Podcasts & Video Channels ]

CS/HB 54 does not allow for the open carry of arms, which is why some said the legislation is not “constitutional carry” and did not go far enough.

“The NRA applauds Florida for becoming the 26th state to adopt the vital Constitutional Carry legislation. This NRA-spearheaded initiative empowers Floridians to exercise their Second Amendment rights without undue bureaucratic barriers, affirming the fundamental right to self-defense,” NRA-ILA Interim Executive Director Randy Kozuch exclusively told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Today’s NRA victory inspires us to continue advocating for Constitutional Carry laws across the nation, ensuring the protection of Second Amendment rights for all Americans,” Kozuch added in his comment to Fox.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 22 Million USA Adults Are Licensed to Concealed Carry Handguns ]

The new law also recognizes reciprocity with other states. It says, “A nonresident of Florida may carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm while in this state if the nonresident is a resident of the United States who is 21 years of age or older and he or she has in his or her immediate possession a valid license to carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm issued to the nonresident in his or her state of residence.”

In addtion, the 106-page bill includes stipulations for county sheriffs to provide a 144-hour training program if a local school board votes to implement a school guardian program that allows armed personnel to “aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises.”

[ Read articles in the SemperVerus category of the 2nd Amendment ]

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