Benefits of a Florida Conceal Carry License?

[King]

I'm always hearing that a Florida concealed carry license is a good thing to have if you are "not" from Florida. However, I'm not sure why.

I live in Texas and have a concealed carry license here. It's generally recognized by surrounding states plus a few others. Like everyone else, I would like to travel freely in the good ol USof A and carry concealed without a hassle.

Question is, does the Florida license help you to do that? If so, "how" and to what exent?

Is it that many more states recognize the Florida license?

Sounds like it's pretty easy to get.

Can you folks give me some feedback on it?

 

[El Tejon]

King, while my state recognizes everywhere in the world, our license is not as widely recognized as Florida. More to the point, DPS in Austin won't sign the Indiana-Texas agreement, so if I want to be legal, I have to go through Florida.

So be it. It wasn't so bad, after I calmed down.

 

[King]

Thanks El Tejon...

If more states recognize the Florida license. The question become why?

Why would other states recognize a Florida licnese and not another states?

 

[Monkeyleg]

King, the sticking point in many states' reciprocal agreements has to do with training requirements. Oftentimes, states that have more rigorous training requirements won't recognize permits from states that have less rigorous standards.

Then, too, it sometimes boils down to the slow, grinding machinery of governments.

Florida's permits are recognized by more states than any other issuing state (18, IIRC).

That pretty much covers me for any state that I travel to. Except my own, of course.

 

[King]

Thanks Monkeyleg....however, it "seems" that the Florida license (at least from what I read on this board and TFL previously) is easier, cheaper, faster and less rigorous. If thats so, it doesn't seem logical that 18 states would view Florida requirements as more rigorous. Perhaps that's so.

Is there an easy list floating around that covers the 18 states that recognize Florida?

Texas is rigorous and not exactly a walk in the park. And, it's not cheap. I can see why it doesn't recognize that many other states. That said, it looks like most state would recognize TExas.

 

[TallPine]

Aren't Florida concealed licenses available through the mail?

What kind of rigorous training does that require - tactical stamp licking ... ?

 

[El Tejon]

King, the senior partner at a firm where I was once employed used to say, "the practice of law is the practice of plagarism." Florida has become what others have copied, "the form." Not good or bad, just the way it is.

Monkey, unfortunately, it's not training for us. As for Texas not recognizing others, I was told that it would be a very cold, ice-filled day in Brownsville before DPS recognized any Yankee state. Their sandbox, their rules, their axes. Time to rally the troops at the respective state associations see if I can get any movement from our friends.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Is there an easy list floating around that covers the 18 states that recognize Florida?

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.

 

[vitiaz]

Go here,

http://www.packing.org/

 

[Monkeyleg]

El Tejon, it's funny that you should mention the "attitude."

We have a certain Texas LEO official on record saying that he was 100% mistaken when he lobbied against the CCW law in TX in 1995. I'm sure you've read his quotes.

I tried to get him to come up "nort" here to testify before senate and assembly hearings. He said no. I asked if he'd just sign a statement of any sort. No way.

His reply, edited for THR language, was "I don't go messing in Yankee doodle, and I don't want Yankees messing in Texas doodle."

 

[Aikibiker]

The way I understand it Florida just tries a lot harder to get reciprocity. Note that reciprocity, unless a state recognizes Fl's permit's we don't recognize their's. Personally I like the way Alaska does it. Or better yet, Vermont.

Our state depends on sales taxes for revenue almost exclusively we don't have a state income tax. We also depend on tourism to get a very large portion of those sales taxes. In an effort to boost tourism our Secretaries of State over the years have been aggressive when it comes getting reciprocity. The idea is if people from other states can bring their guns they will feel safer here than in say California thus they will come to our theme parks instead. This is also why someone who is unable to obtain a permit from their own state is able to get one from Florida.

Course requirements for a permit are harder then some states, easier then others. They can be accessed through a little digging on the net or if you are a fan of 20th century technology simply call the Florida Department of State Division of Licensing at (850)488-5381, and request a CCW permit pack. This is a complete package with all the required forms and detailed instructions about the permit process as well as a copy of Florida's weapons laws. It is available absolutely free and will be mailed to your door at your request.

*important note* please treat this as you would any other information you find on the internet from someone you don't know sitting at a computer hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Wow, I didn't mean to write a book.

 

[BogBabe]

Aikibiker is right -- Florida is continuously working to achieve reciprocity with additional states. Reciprocity is something that doesn't just happen; a state has to work at it, contacting other states, proposing a reciprocity agreement, exchanging information about the details of each state's CCW requirements, answering questions, doing paperwork, getting everything approved through channels, and so forth.

When I took a road trip some time back, I queried the SecState's office about reciprocity with the states I'd be driving through. The reply I got back indicated that it was a continuous process on their part in which they were pretty vigorously pursuing reciprocity with other states. In reference to one state I had inquired about (I think it was Alabama) the reply said "We have just completed a reciprocity agreement with them and the information will be going up on both states' Web site next week." (This was a couple of years ago.)

I believe Florida has reciprocity with more states than any other state, and we issue CCWs to non-residents, which are honored by our reciprocity agreements with many of the other states (but not all).

Lucky Vermonters, who can't get reciprocity with any other state, due to their lack of a CCW system at all, can pick up a Florida non-resident permit and enjoy reciprocity with a good many other states.

We may be election-challenged here but we're pretty good with our reciprocity program. If I didn't live here already, I'd get a Fla. non-resident CCW just on general principle.

 

[JohnBT]

www.alpharubicon.com/leo/floridacc.htm

There's the list. Virginia doe NOT recognize FL permits so I'm SOL on getting a permit to carry in FL.

"Citizens from ONLY those states that have acknowledged our inquiry and have agreed to honor Florida licenses will be accorded the right of carrying a concealed weapon/firearm in Florida."

John

 

[Hkmp5sd]

JohnBT,

That means that Florida will not accept citizens from Virginia using a Virginia issued CCW because Virginia will not recognize a Florida CCW. It does not prohibit a citizen from Virginia from acquiring a Florida Non-resident CCW.

 

[BogBabe]

You'd probably do well to go to the original source for information on stuff like this.

Here's the state of Florida's Web page on reciprocity

Here's the actual statute on reciprocity in Florida.

And here's the Florida statutes on weapons and firearms.

And yes, Hkmp5sd is right -- you can still get a Florida non-resident CCW and carry in Florida, as well as in all the states that honor Florida's non-resident permit.

 

[macmuffy]

As a Virginia resident, Florida will not honor VA. CCW permit
while I'm traveling/vacationing in that state.
OK-- this was the easy one.

Now--- I jump through the hoops and obtain a non-residence
CCW from Florida.

Does having a non-residence permit allow me to CC even
if I am not a resident of the state while I am traveling/vacationing
in Florida?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Does having a non-residence permit allow me to CC even

Yes. That was the original intent of the law, to allow visitors to Florida to carry while in Florida. Plus, the states listed above will accept a Florida non-resident CCW with the exception of Michigan and New Hamshire, which will only accept a Florida CCW if you are a resident of Florida.

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Florida permits are more widely recognized because they were the first to exist and the first to actively seek recipricocity agreements. In Louisiana, a non-resident Florida license is actually preferable to a Louisiana license because you have to give up certain rights here when you hold a Louisiana license. As Louisiana cannot put restrictions on my aquisition of a Florida license, I can carry here without sacrificing ant rights.

 

[Viking6]

JohnBT, in addition to my Virginia CCW and I have had a Florida non- resident CCW for about three months. Looks like a driver's license and has my Viginia home address on it. BTW, it doesn't say non-resident. In fact, it says across the top:

Line 1: Concealed Weapon or Firearm License

Line 2: State of Florida


Lastly, it's good for five years.

 

[King]

Viking6.....is there a specific web site to visit and get the application as well as review the requirements? Given that I have a Texas license already, I should have met most if not all reqts.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Florida CCW Application Online Request Form

 

[PageField]

King,
You probably see by now that FL CCW is Not quick nor cheap, but should be worth it for a traveler..

 

[Viking6]

Good cover Hkmp5sd, Thanks.

 

[JohnBT]

I guess I need to learn to read.

I now see that there is no Florida 'non-resident permit', they just sell you the regular one.

Unfortunately, for a hundred and some bucks it still doesn't help with legal carry in the the surrounding jurisdictions: N. Carolina, W. Va., Maryland and D.C. How did we end up surrounded by such turkeys?

Thanks for the info though. Could come in handy if I take early retirement in a year or so.

John

 

[Hkmp5sd]

there is no Florida 'non-resident permit', they just sell you the regular one.

Yep, but it does have the out-of-state address printed on it and at least two states (Michigan and New Hamshire) will not take it unless it shows a Florida address.