Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

Florida Urgent Alert! Open-Carry for CW License Holders in next Committee

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

 

DATE:  January 27, 2015
TO: USF & NRA Members and Friends
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
  USF Executive Director
  NRA Past President

 

URGENT: HB-163 by Rep. Matt Gaetz is on the agenda for the House Judiciary Committee TOMORROW, Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 9:00am.

HB-163 is a bill to allow persons with a Concealed Weapons & Firearms License to carry firearms concealed or openly.  

It will prevent CW license holders from being charged with the crime of violating the "Open Carry" law because a concealed firearm, being legally carried, accidentally or inadvertently becomes visible to the sight of another person.

ANYTIME YOU CARRY CONCEALED, YOU ARE IN DANGER OF BEING ARRESTED, CHARGED AND PROSECUTED LIKE A CRIMINAL for violating the ban on open carry of firearms, if your gun is accidentally, unintentionally, briefly exposed to the sight of another person.

Our attorneys tell us that the ONLY WAY to completely stop this abuse, is to legally allow license holders to carry openly -- then they cannot be charged with violation of the open carry ban no matter how brief the accidental and unintentional exposure. 

Once again, as they did in  2011, The Florida Sheriffs Association is trying to kill the bill by offering an amendment that is an outright fraud.  They claim it will stop CW License holders from being arrested -- THAT IS FALSE.  Their amendment is nothing more than a smokescreen to hide their anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment agenda.

We need you to contact committee members immediately and urge them to pass this bill. 

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY EMAIL Members of the House Judiciary Committee and  URGE THEM TO SUPPORT HB-163 By Rep. Matt Gaetz

In the subject line put:  SUPPORT HB-163 - Open Carry by CW License Holders


(Block and Copy All email addresses into the "Send To" box)

[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],

It is imperative that you email these Committee members right away.


BACKGROUND:

FACTS ABOUT FLORIDA'S OPEN CARRY BILL

Despite the misinformation peddled to the press, these are the facts:

1.  This bill only applies to handguns.  Nothing in this bill would authorize the open carry of long guns – rifles or shotguns.

2. Nothing in this bill in any way impacts the private property rights of others – not of businesses and not of private individuals.

3. Only a person with a license to carry concealed may choose to carry openly.

4. The same restrictions that apply to carrying concealed will also apply to open carry. [ s.790.06 ]

5. No person may carry a firearm around in the hand or exhibit it in a rude careless, angry, or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.  To do so violates existing law. [ s.790.10 ]

6. A license holder is required -- by existing law -- to show the license to any law enforcement officer who wants to see it -- that's in the original law passed in 1987. [ s.790.06 (1) ]

7. Businesses have the right to deny entry, refuse service, and/or evict anyone they wish -- unless it's done on the basis of race, gender, or religion.  It is common to see signs that say, "No shoes, no shirt, no service."  Businesses  should not be reluctant to post signs saying , "No open carrying of firearms."
It's THEIR right.

8. 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.  No matter where you live geographically, whether it's Trilby, Fla. or Fanning Springs, Fla., you have the same constitutional rights as citizens who live in Miami, Tampa, or Orlando.

9. Forty-five (45) states allow open carry of firearms.

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  carry license states require additional training to carry openly
0 of 45 states offer a separate "open carry" license
2 of 45 states require a holster to open carry. 
0 of 45 states require a special 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.

10. Florida is 1 of 5 states that DO NOT allow Open Carry.  The others are California, Illinois, New York and South Carolina.  It's time for Florida to be in better company.

Allowing concealed carry license holders to also carry openly is THE ONLY WAY to stop abuse by law enforcement officers.  License holders continue to be arrested and prosecuted for violation of the law banning open carry when their concealed firearms are accidentally, unintentionally and briefly exposed to the ordinary sign of another person. 

Despite efforts in 2011 to stop this abuse continues and it has to stop. 

ANYTIME a concealed carry license holder is carrying concealed he/she is in danger of being maliciously and spitefully arrested, charged with a crime and prosecuted like a criminal, if the gun is accidentally seen by another person.

EMAIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY: Tell them to support HB-163

 

 

 

TRENDING NOW
One Big Beautiful Bill Clears Senate, and Heads Back to House

News  

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

One Big Beautiful Bill Clears Senate, and Heads Back to House

Earlier today the U.S. Senate passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill contained a provision that would, among other things, eliminate the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, and “any ...

Congress Passes the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Now Headed to President Trump

News  

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Congress Passes the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Now Headed to President Trump

Earlier today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill contained a provision that would, among other things, eliminate the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, ...

U.S. House Sends Reconciliation Bill to President Trump

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, July 3, 2025

U.S. House Sends Reconciliation Bill to President Trump

NFA Tax on Suppressors, Short-Barreled Firearms, and Other Arms Reduced to $0

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

U.S. Senate Adds Pro-Gun Tax Relief Language Back into Reconciliation Bill

News  

Saturday, June 28, 2025

U.S. Senate Adds Pro-Gun Tax Relief Language Back into Reconciliation Bill

Overnight, the U.S. Senate added pro-gun tax relief language back into the Reconciliation bill after the Senate Parliamentarian struck out an earlier provision.  While this new provision is not as expansive as the language we advocated for which ...

Armed Churchgoers Prevent Mass Attack as State Lawmakers Plot More Gun Control

News  

Monday, June 30, 2025

Armed Churchgoers Prevent Mass Attack as State Lawmakers Plot More Gun Control

Just over an hour away from the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan – even as lawmakers worked feverishly to pass various gun control measures, including expansion of “gun free” zones – a chilling reminder unfolded of the ...

Canada’s Big Ugly Gun Grab: An Update

News  

Monday, June 30, 2025

Canada’s Big Ugly Gun Grab: An Update

Canada’s Liberal government is pressing on with its harebrained gun ban and confiscation program for “assault style weapons,” but, true to form and precedents, it has been far from smooth sailing.

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Recently, House Bill 193 (H193) was reported favorably out of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with amendments.

Urge the U.S. Senate to Pass the One Big Beautiful Bill – Contact Your U.S. Senators Today!

News  

Monday, June 30, 2025

Urge the U.S. Senate to Pass the One Big Beautiful Bill – Contact Your U.S. Senators Today!

The U.S. Senate has cleared a number of procedural hurdles and is preparing to vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill. This vote will likely come within the next day. The One Big Beautiful Bill includes ...

President Trump Signs the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into Law

News  

Friday, July 4, 2025

President Trump Signs the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into Law

Earlier today, on the 4th of July, a day on which our Founding Fathers declared their intent for a free nation, the President of the United State of America, Donald Trump, signed the “One Big ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.