MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — The Miami Gun Show took place this weekend at the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center.
It was a place where’s Florida’s new open carry law was an interesting topic.
Effective as of Sept. 25, Florida law began permitting open carry of firearms after an appellate court ruling, but there are specific restrictions and exceptions.
You must be at least 21 years old and legally allowed to possess a firearm.
An openly carried firearm must be in a proper holster or sling, and is prohibited in certain locations, like courthouses, schools, and government buildings.
Additionally, a Broward County judge has ruled to declare a portion of the Parkland Gun Law unconstitutional. Specifically, the section that says adults under 21 cannot conceal and carry a weapon.
The ruling stems from the arrest of 19-year-old Joel Walkes III, who was charged after an officer found him carrying a concealed firearm when his car broke down on a Plantation roadway.
Circuit Judge Frank Ledee sided with Walkes, saying the state’s age restriction violated constitutional rights.
Florida passed the age limit in 2018 after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 people were killed.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from those impacted by gun violence.
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