News Articles

Grassroots Florida Open Carry movement gains momentum

The Examiner, January 10, 2011.

On Saturday approximately 150 gun owners packed the First Street fishing pier in Melbourne with holstered pistols on their sides.  Statewide, hundreds of members of Florida’s Open Carry Movement gathered at fishing venues in other cities across the state to support a repeal of Florida’s unusual ban on carrying unconcealed sidearms.  Open Carry is widely banned in Florida but there are exceptions for fishing, hunting, and camping.  Only six other states generally ban openly carrying a properly holstered handgun. 

Recent public opinion polls by Central Florida News 13, the Orlando Sentinel, and South Florida’s Sun Sentinel have been overwhelmingly in favor of allowing unlicensed open carry.  29 states require no license to bear arms away from home as long as the handgun is visible.  A total of 43 states allow open carry by private citizens, although 14 do require a license.

Florida Senator Greg Evers is sponsoring legislation in Senate Bill 234 that, in part, will allow people who already have concealed carry licensees to choose the method of carry most appropriate to the situation at hand while protecting concealed carriers from sanctions for accidental or casual failure to maintain concealment.  Members of the Florida Open Carry movement look forward to the bill passing this year but continue to fight for repeal of the general open carry ban.

SB 234 represents a step in the right direction for many reasons, licensed open carry being one positive provision.  Florida Carry members are doing everything in their power to see the bill pass, but look forward to the day where no license will be required to exercise a fundamental civil right.  Having received assurances from Governor Scott that he supports an end the open carry ban, Florida’s gun owners are standing up to be heard.

Copyright 2011.