People across Florida are now able to openly carry a gun, but the decision has sparked controversial conversation throughout the state.
Questions remain of what exactly the enforcement of this new ruling will look like as guns can now be visible on a person’s waistband, as of Thursday.
Local 10 News asked law enforcement jurisdictions across South Florida about the adjustments they’re making.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also recently addressed the latest strike down of Florida’s open carry ban.
“People have a right to open carry under the United States Constitution in this state now,” he said.
But police and sheriff’s departments around Florida have varying interpretations of the ruling, and specific exemptions in state statute, which some say could be overridden by the constitutional right to bear arms.
“Some people support this, and some people don’t,” Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said.
In Monroe County, open carry is in effect as the sheriff there says his deputies now need more training.
In Miami-Dade County, officials are reviewing the policy and say they’ll make their guidance public soon.
And in Broward County, the sheriff’s office refers the public to the attorney general’s office, stressing gun safety.
“Because you had a ruling come down from a court as opposed to a new law passed by the Legislature that is striking down as unconstitutional a significant portion of Florida law that prohibits open carry, it’s not the cleanest situation. And there’s likely cleanup that’s going to be needed by the Legislature,” Uthmeier said.
So, state lawmakers may need to lay out the specifics in a new law.
“But I caution people, that doesn’t give you the ability to take firearms into schools -- there’s federal and state law on that,” Uthmeier said.
A person was recently spotted in Lake County with a long gun, and authorities say unless he’s carrying it in a threatening manner, under open carry, he’s within his rights.
“I know everybody is taking a look and researching and better understanding the current legal environment right now,” Uthmeier said.
The lift on the ban does not mean people can open carry anywhere and everywhere as private businesses and properties do not have to conform to the open carry law.
And, of course, there are places you can never open carry, like in schools and courthouses.
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