FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Guns can now be visible on a person’s waistband out in public as part of a new statewide law now in effect.
Florida joins dozens of other states that already allow open carry.
Wayne Black, a former law enforcement officer who is now a security expert and firearms instructor, says it will be a sharp learning curve for Floridians.
“As a firearms instructor, we worry about, ‘do they just put on the gun or are they trained?’” said Black. “Does their holster have a retention capability? In other words, if they run, will it fall out? Can somebody just walk up behind them and take the gun from them? So it’s a whole different dynamic.”
Many gun advocates feel strongly about the new law as part of their Second Amendment rights.
Police and sheriff’s departments across the state have publicly said they will no longer enforce the ban on openly carrying gun, but in public.
Private businesses and properties don’t have to conform to the open carry law.
“If you own a business, you can post your business with a sign indicating no weapons allowed, no open carry,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “You can ask someone to leave if they show up on your property, even with that sign. If they don’t leave, call law enforcement.”
Added Black: “The issue in Florida is going to be that confusion with, ‘Oh there’s a guy with a gun, who is he?’ And somebody is going to call the police, and what are the police going to do? I think police instances are going to triple from this at first.’
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