Off Limits Areas for Concealed Weapon Permit Holders in Florida

Off Limits Areas for Concealed Weapon Permit Holders in Florida

By: Zach McCormick

Date:October 5, 2016

       "Being forewarned is being forearmed" is an old phrase and it essentially means that if you know what challenges are before you that you will be better equipped to deal with those matters if you are aware of them before you encounter them. 

When it comes to legal and responsible firearms ownership and more specifically to lawful concealed weapons carry, it is absolutely critical to know the law. After all, to quote another old saying "ignorance of the law is not a defense".

So here is a simple list of places that the are off limits in the State of Florida for concealed weapons holders.  Per Florida Statute 790.06, section 12(a):

A license issued under this section does not authorize any person to openly carry a handgun or carry a concealed weapon or firearm into:

1. Any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05 (generally referring to brothels,      

       gambling houses or places where gang activity occurs)

2. Any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station;

3. Any detention facility, prison, or jail;

4. Any courthouse;

5. Any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from  

carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom;

6. Any polling place;

7. Any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school

district, municipality, or special district;

8. Any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof;

9. Any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms;

10.  Any elementary or secondary school facility or administration building;

11.  Any career center;

12.  Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for

consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;

13.  Any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student,

employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a

stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile;

14.  The inside of the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that

no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal,

which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as

baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or

15. Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law.

Bear in mind that as to the question of schools, there are some fairly complex rules that relate to the type of school, what relation the permit holder has to the school and the exact location that the permit holder wishes to carry the firearm on the school grounds. There are also some nuances to what constitutes a prohibited area in an establishment that serves alcohol. In other words, this is a list designed to provide an overview. If you use it to avoid all of the places on the list than you can rest easy that you are not in violation of the law on this point at least.