Do I Need a Florida Concealed Carry Permit (Florida CCW)?
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Thanks for checking out our blog, regarding firearms training in the Florida Panhandle. In today’s article, we will not only address the question of “Do I need a Florida Concealed Carry Permit (CCW)?”, but also, “What are the benefits of having a Florida CCW?”
Finding a Florida CCW class nearby is as simple as doing an online search of “CCW classes” or “CCW firearms instructors near me“. Of course, you will need to verify that the instructor offering the class is certified through a recognized and accepted organization, such as the National Rifle Association (NRA).
The Florida Department Of Agriculture regulates and issues concealed weapon licenses in the state of Florida. To address the question of “Do I need a Florida CCW?”, the short answer is no, you do not need a CCW to carry a firearm in Florida. However, you do need to meet certain criteria before you proceed with carrying a concealed weapon. You can find out the requirements, as well as the limitations, of carrying without a concealed weapon license on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ website.
So, if you don’t need a Florida CCW, why take the time to get one? Well, there are certainly benefits of having your CCW. To begin, having a CCW shows that you have taken an additional step toward responsible firearms ownership, by gaining knowledge in both state and federal laws, and by learning the fundamentals. In fact, you would be surprised by the amount of folks who consider themselves knowledgeable with firearms, yet do not know the proper fundamentals, or how to execute them. But, that’s a topic for another day… We’ll be sure to address that in an upcoming blog post.
Moving on, let’s discuss eligibility and ineligibility… Who can obtain a Florida CCW, and who may not?
Below are the eligibility requirements, as set forth by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
- Applicants must be 21 years of age or older unless you are a service member as defined under 250.1 where there is a stipulation for service members 18 years of age an up
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate competency with a firearm. (Competency is established by taking a Florida concealed carry weapons permit class from a certified instructor.)
- Applicants must currently reside in the United States and be a U.S. citizen, or deemed a lawful permanent resident alien by the Department Of Homeland Security.
Some reasons for Ineligibility:
- Applicants lack the physical ability to handle a firearm (Remember- you need to be able to demonstrate competency.)
- Applicant has a felony conviction (unless you have had your civil rights restored to possess and carry a firearm by the convicting authority)
- Applicant has a misdemeanor conviction of a crime of violence within the last three (3) years
- Applicant has two (2) or more DUI convictions
- Applicant has a record of drug or alcohol abuse
- Applicant has a conviction or multiple arrests for controlled substances
- Applicant has failed to provide proof of proficiency with a firearm (successful completion of a CCW class will get you a certificate of completion and proficiency)
- Applicant has a domestic violence injunction
- Applicant has renounced his/her U.S. citizenship
- Applicant is a fugitive from justice
I would encourage anyone with questions regarding eligibility or ineligibility to go the Department of Agriculture’s website for a more detailed explanation.
I would like to briefly revisit the topic of why a Florida CCW is of benefit to you. Many people immediately ask why anyone would be interested in a CCW, if it’s already legal to carry concealed in the state. Here are just a few reasons why getting a Florida CCW is worth your time:
- Reciprocity- currently 37 states have reciprocal agreements with Florida and recognize the FL CCW, which means you can carry in those states, too. (Click here to view reciprocity maps.)
- There is no three (3) day waiting period to purchase a firearm in Florida if you have a CCW.
- You can drive through a school zone if you have a CCW. This is important, since many main and side roads pass through active school zones.
- Classes are very informative as you will learn about state and federal laws, holster options (pros and cons) for concealment, mindset and defensive training, shoot/don’t shoot case scenarios, and be part of a growing community of responsible and trained firearms owners.
Visit our website for a listing of upcoming CCW classes and to learn more about our qualified firearms instructors.
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