When can you carry a concealed firearm in Florida?

Concealed weapon laws vary from one state to the next, but if you wish to lawfully carry a concealed firearm in Florida, there are certain steps you must take first. Florida has concealed carry laws in place to protect the general public, and you must follow them if you wish to carry a sidearm.  

Per the Florida State Legislature, whether you may carry a concealed firearm in Florida depends on whether you have a permit to do so. If you carry a concealed firearm and you do not have a permit, you may wind up facing a third-degree felony charge. There are very few exceptions to this rule.  

Securing a concealed carry permit

You need to meet certain eligibility criteria to apply for a concealed carry permit in Florida. You need to meet age requirements, and you also have to be a U.S. citizen with no felony convictions in your past. You also need to attest that you do not have a disability that prevents you from being able to safely possess and handle a firearm.  

Other types of criminal convictions may also make you ineligible for a concealed carry permit. You also need to demonstrate that you know how to use a firearm in a safe manner and that you plan to use it only for self-defense.  

Proving a concealed carry offense

If authorities find you in possession of a firearm without a permit, you may have to go to court. There, the state must prove that you knowingly carried a firearm, that you concealed it out of sight and that you did not have a permit to do so.  

Penalties for carrying a concealed firearm might include jail or prison time, probation and/or hefty fines, among other possibilities.