Florida, recognized for its strong gun culture, upholds a ban on the open carrying of firearms, which contrasts with the trend in other states that have relaxed their open carry laws.
With several states around the country adopting open carry laws, this has kept Florida in another league. Despite Florida’s unique gun-related challenges, the state’s prohibition on open carry is rooted in historical, political and public safety reasons.
The development of firearm-carry laws in Florida has been a concern in the state. In 1987, Florida lawmakers approved a concealed carry law, allowing citizens who qualify to carry a gun with a permit. That law, however, prohibits carrying a firearm openly. This decision was influenced by fears that open carry could escalate confrontations in public spaces.
Law enforcement, policymakers and the tourism industry in Florida are against open carry laws. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement chose not to provide a comment, emphasizing that it simply enforces existing laws.
“FDLE has a long-standing tradition of political independence and impartiality; that tradition allows us to offer investigative and forensic findings free of any perceived bias. Our role is to enforce the laws that our lawmakers establish. For this reason, FDLE does not take positions, and we must decline the interview,” FDLE told the CapitalBureau.
Everytown for Gun Safety, a prominent non-profit organization, focuses on promoting gun control and violence prevention. It opposes open carry laws, stating that openly carrying firearms heightens the risk of violence and instills fear in public areas. Their research and advocacy efforts significantly impact gun legislation, including supporting the maintenance of Florida’s open carry prohibition.
“Every day, more than 120 people in the United States are killed with guns, twice as many are shot and wounded, and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence.” Everytown research analysis reports.
A study conducted by the Giffords; Courage to Fight Gun Violence found that states with open carry laws did not see crime reduced compared to states with more restrictive gun laws.
According to Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, “One recent study found that when states weakened their concealed carry laws and removed provisions like live fire training and violent misdemeanor prohibitions —both of which Florida currently has —they experienced a 22% increase in gun assaults and a 35% increase in gun homicides.”
In 2023, a proposed bill that would have allowed open carry failed to pass, despite strong efforts from gun rights advocates. The defeat was seen as a victory for those focused on public safety and tourism over the expansion of gun rights.
While Florida remains a state where concealed carry is widely accepted, the prohibition on open carry is a balance between gun rights and public safety concerns. Until these concerns are addressed to an extent that satisfies policymakers and law enforcement, it is unlikely Florida will join the list of states that permit open carry.