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PCB66

(44 posts)
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 02:24 PM Wednesday

'Now an open carry state': Court strikes down Florida's open carry ban

Source: WESH 2 News

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

A state appeals court on Wednesday in a major decision ruled Florida’s ban on openly carrying guns is unconstitutional.

A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal, pointing to U.S. Supreme Court rulings on Second Amendment issues, said the open-carry ban is incompatible with the nation’s “historical tradition of firearm regulation.”

The state's Attorney General said his office "fully supports the Court’s decision."

He went on to say. "This is a big win for the Second Amendment rights of Floridians. As we’ve all witnessed over the last few days, our God-given right to self-defense is indispensable."

Read more: https://www.wesh.com/article/court-strikes-down-florida-open-carry-ban/66040070?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot



This may be a final ruling. It won't go to the Florida Supreme Court without the AG pushing it and since DeSantis says he strongly supports open carry it is unlikely.

Now Florida will be like the Wild West with everybody and little brown dog walking around with a six iron on their hip or more likely an AR-15 slung across their shoulder. Our foreign tourists will love it, won't they?
38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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'Now an open carry state': Court strikes down Florida's open carry ban (Original Post) PCB66 Wednesday OP
This means Florida joins the 46 other states sarisataka Wednesday #1
I saw some yahoo carrying a rifle into a Best Buy not long ago. groundloop Wednesday #4
I have never seen someone carry a rifle into a business sarisataka Wednesday #8
"How the hell am I supposed to know if some scruffy looking dude with a rifle is a good guy or a bad guy?" markodochartaigh Wednesday #27
Maddening yet hilarious at the same time wolfie001 Wednesday #32
The fact that there is literally NO fucking way to tell really should have ended this fucking debate ages ago. But this Karasu Wednesday #34
Because it looks really stupid. GoodRaisin Wednesday #11
My wife spent two weeks in Texas PCB66 Wednesday #18
In Michigan I see them daily. James48 Wednesday #21
Just like Utah. Torchlight Thursday #36
NOT "like the wild west".... Far far worse. groundloop Wednesday #2
Actually, Texas banned the carrying of any weapons in the 1870's including knives. Scruffy1 Wednesday #30
What could go wrong Flori-duh ?? Nictuku Wednesday #3
"historical tradition of firearm regulation... at the expense of domestic tranquility and the general welfare" Torchlight Wednesday #5
Will the characters at Disney World johnnyfins Wednesday #6
Btw: I am never going to Florida again johnnyfins Wednesday #7
I was thinking the same thing kimbutgar Wednesday #17
Tourists - Beware! And maybe stay home. NM Grins Wednesday #9
Which state will be the first.... Old Crank Wednesday #10
It's my understanding, Florida has been "permitless concealed carry since July, 2023 but got to be at least 21 Deuxcents Wednesday #12
The Florida AG said he was not going to appeal. PCB66 Wednesday #22
There will be yet more shootings, and gunplay in the parks, streets, malls, parking lots, Churches, Synagogues, schools, Ford_Prefect Wednesday #13
It's all fun and games, until the Black Panthers show up JoseBalow Wednesday #14
The Tourist and Development industries... PCB66 Wednesday #15
Someone openly carrying used to be a huge red flag for cops Oeditpus Rex Wednesday #16
Even most gun guys generally laugh at open carry guys NickB79 Wednesday #19
The end goal: Firearm Ubiquity maxsolomon Wednesday #20
I am Rebl2 Wednesday #23
Only saw it one time in Indiana tavernier Wednesday #24
That was great - thanks for the giggle! Talitha Wednesday #28
In a f*ckin CANDY STORE not fooled Wednesday #33
Crime will increase and they will say they don't know why. They dumb. twodogsbarking Wednesday #25
Now whenever I see some yahoo carrying an AR-15 in Florida I will call 911 to report a potential mass shooter. sop Wednesday #26
The state with the most nutjob people Justice Brandeis Wednesday #29
god-given right to be a gun humping coward Skittles Wednesday #31
Florida Man and Open Carry PCB66 Thursday #35
So, am i to assume EVERYONE could walk around with bluestarone Thursday #37
if... myohmy2 Thursday #38

sarisataka

(21,999 posts)
1. This means Florida joins the 46 other states
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 02:35 PM
Wednesday

That allow open carry.
I live in one of them and it has been two years since I have seen someone carrying a gun, outside of hunting season

groundloop

(13,269 posts)
4. I saw some yahoo carrying a rifle into a Best Buy not long ago.
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 02:43 PM
Wednesday

I got the hell out of there and called the police. How the hell am I supposed to know if some scruffy looking dude with a rifle is a good guy or a bad guy?

sarisataka

(21,999 posts)
8. I have never seen someone carry a rifle into a business
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 02:52 PM
Wednesday

The last ones I saw were a man and woman openly carrying while grocery shopping.
I am not a fan of the practice but it does not disturb me. I figure if the person had ill intent they would just do it, not shop while revealing they are armed.

markodochartaigh

(4,001 posts)
27. "How the hell am I supposed to know if some scruffy looking dude with a rifle is a good guy or a bad guy?"
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 05:22 PM
Wednesday
?si=rMPsIM3Z1ebPWB_K

wolfie001

(6,119 posts)
32. Maddening yet hilarious at the same time
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 07:28 PM
Wednesday

I think it's the way the artist drew his bored expression with the whole process.

Karasu

(2,003 posts)
34. The fact that there is literally NO fucking way to tell really should have ended this fucking debate ages ago. But this
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 11:21 PM
Wednesday

country is insane, so...

PCB66

(44 posts)
18. My wife spent two weeks in Texas
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 03:58 PM
Wednesday

Texas is a notorious open carry state. The only time we saw anybody open carry was when we stopped to get gas in West Texas. Ranching area. Guy drives up in his Ford F150 with a pistol strapped to his side.

To me that is legit. He probably needed it for rattlers or whatever.

Just think of how many "Florida Man" types will abuse it.

James48

(4,939 posts)
21. In Michigan I see them daily.
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 04:24 PM
Wednesday

Lots if folks open carry here. Mostly in the suburbs and Trump communities.

groundloop

(13,269 posts)
2. NOT "like the wild west".... Far far worse.
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 02:41 PM
Wednesday

Most towns in the 'wild west' required you to leave your gun with the sheriff when you entered town (i.e. 'gun control'). Imagine the outcry if that were attempted today.

We're fast becoming a lawless banana republic where the profits of the gun industry are more important than peoples (and especially children's) lives, all because of an improper interpretation of some words on a piece of paper - everyone ignores the "well regulated militia" part.

Scruffy1

(3,465 posts)
30. Actually, Texas banned the carrying of any weapons in the 1870's including knives.
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 06:44 PM
Wednesday

All the Clarence thomas "historical" stuff is nonsense, like everything the Suptremes do.

Torchlight

(5,679 posts)
5. "historical tradition of firearm regulation... at the expense of domestic tranquility and the general welfare"
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 02:44 PM
Wednesday

is how I read it.

kimbutgar

(26,001 posts)
17. I was thinking the same thing
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 03:56 PM
Wednesday

Florida will never be a destination for me even if I’m booked on a cruise leaving its port. I’m glad I went to Florida before it became so insane.

Deuxcents

(23,981 posts)
12. It's my understanding, Florida has been "permitless concealed carry since July, 2023 but got to be at least 21
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 03:12 PM
Wednesday

Now..we’re gonna be a permitless concealed carry and open carry state. The only thing I can hope for are appeals but I’m not counting on it. The last six years have been totally wacked

Ford_Prefect

(8,439 posts)
13. There will be yet more shootings, and gunplay in the parks, streets, malls, parking lots, Churches, Synagogues, schools,
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 03:22 PM
Wednesday

grocery stores, and Quick Marts (convenient corner locations for drive-in idiots to practice 9mm mayhem).

The arms and ammunition industries will blossom with new offerings to meet the demand.

PCB66

(44 posts)
15. The Tourist and Development industries...
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 03:51 PM
Wednesday

...have traditionally been the ones to lobby the Legislature to not pass an open carry law.

With the Legislature being super Republican majority in Florida you have expected to have open carry a long time ago but it never happen. Most of the time never making it out of Committee.

Oeditpus Rex

(42,716 posts)
16. Someone openly carrying used to be a huge red flag for cops
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 03:55 PM
Wednesday

Particularly if the carrier was Black.

Now what do they do?

NickB79

(20,104 posts)
19. Even most gun guys generally laugh at open carry guys
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 04:14 PM
Wednesday

Carrying a gun in plain sight means you're gonna be the first one to be shot when shit goes down, because you're the most obvious threat to the shooter's plans.

Of course, most guys who open carry aren't doing it for self defense, but for intimidation.

Rebl2

(16,962 posts)
23. I am
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 04:32 PM
Wednesday

in MO and we have had open carry for a few years now, but I have only seen one person, at cvs of all places, with a small gun in holster.

tavernier

(13,933 posts)
24. Only saw it one time in Indiana
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 04:42 PM
Wednesday

In a Big Lots. Big fat guy with draggy jeans shopping with his elderly mother. He looked like a class A goofball. For the life of me, I don’t know why any man would want to make himself look foolish like that. I’m a 78 year-old woman and I am not afraid to go downtown without a gun in my purse or hanging from my belt. Yeah, he was a real gunslinger.

not fooled

(6,464 posts)
33. In a f*ckin CANDY STORE
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 07:50 PM
Wednesday

This was a few years ago in yuma az, the dingy armpit of the desert southwest. Mennonites had a candy store open during the winter (habitable) months. I gave in to temptation and went in to buy some fudge. The only people in the store were the Mennonite proprietors, a couple elderly customers, and me.

And as I was checking out, next to me a skinny young white dude with his missus (carrying a baby) and a gun strapped to his waistband. I did a double take, thought about saying something sarcastic to him, thought better of it, and got out ASAP. That's what I get for buying candy.

Oh, yeah candy store patrons are a real threat.

sop

(16,010 posts)
26. Now whenever I see some yahoo carrying an AR-15 in Florida I will call 911 to report a potential mass shooter.
Wed Sep 10, 2025, 05:18 PM
Wednesday

myohmy2

(3,672 posts)
38. if...
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:08 PM
Thursday

...I seen a person with a gun in or around a store or business I would leave immediately and never shop or do business there again...

...a person around me openly carrying a gun is a major potential threat to me that I don't need to put up with...

...concealed, I wouldn't know unless I spotted something and then I'd do the same...

...businesses that cater to endangering me and my family's life and wellbeing is a no-go...I'll carry most or all of my business to the internet if I have to...

...to quote Groucho, "...outside of the improvement you'd never know the difference."

...

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