Hi everyone, I'm a brand new gun owner and am pretty new to most of this stuff. I've been learning a whole lot over the last few months, and bought a CZ P-01 last week. I was not initially planning on getting a concealed handgun license any time soon for a couple of reasons: 1) I'm kind of a small person and the P-01 is a bit big for the amount of real estate I've got to hide it on, and 2) I'm a grad student so I spend most of my time at school where I couldn't carry anyways.
So, my new friend will stay at home and come to the range, but I also want to take it hiking and kayaking, particularly when I'm out alone. I've read that unlicensed people can carry while hunting, fishing, or camping, but what I'm not sure of is whether day hiking and paddling would count under those activities, and whether I would be allowed to carry concealed or if it's open carry (which is generally illegal in Florida). I know these are kind of specific questions, but I figure there might be a reasonable number of Floridians around here and maybe some of them get out into the woods a bit here and there. And anyone else who might be interested is more than welcome to help me make sense of the laws.
The relevant statute is 790.25(3)(h), which states:
My reading of it, and the statutes it refers to, is that I could carry either open or concealed while engaged in any of those activities. But, I looked at the rules of some of the public lands areas I like to go to, and they specifically state that no guns are allowed outside of hunting season unless you have a CHL. I'm not sure who has the ultimate authority here, so I was wondering if anyone else had any idea.
So, my new friend will stay at home and come to the range, but I also want to take it hiking and kayaking, particularly when I'm out alone. I've read that unlicensed people can carry while hunting, fishing, or camping, but what I'm not sure of is whether day hiking and paddling would count under those activities, and whether I would be allowed to carry concealed or if it's open carry (which is generally illegal in Florida). I know these are kind of specific questions, but I figure there might be a reasonable number of Floridians around here and maybe some of them get out into the woods a bit here and there. And anyone else who might be interested is more than welcome to help me make sense of the laws.
The relevant statute is 790.25(3)(h), which states:
790.25 Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons.--
(3) LAWFUL USES.--The provisions of ss. 790.053 and 790.06 do not apply in the following instances, and, despite such sections, it is lawful for the following persons to own, possess, and lawfully use firearms and other weapons, ammunition, and supplies for lawful purposes:
(h) A person engaged in fishing, camping, or lawful hunting or going to or returning from a fishing, camping, or lawful hunting expedition;
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790.053 Open carrying of weapons.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided by law and in subsection (2), it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any firearm or electric weapon or device.
790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.--
My reading of it, and the statutes it refers to, is that I could carry either open or concealed while engaged in any of those activities. But, I looked at the rules of some of the public lands areas I like to go to, and they specifically state that no guns are allowed outside of hunting season unless you have a CHL. I'm not sure who has the ultimate authority here, so I was wondering if anyone else had any idea.