Public and Law Enforcement Attitudes on Concealed Carry in Orlando, Florida

What is the attitude of the public and law enforcement in Orlando on civilian CHL?

  • Very Pro-Gun

    Votes: 3 50.0%
  • Somewhat Pro-Gun

    Votes: 2 33.3%
  • Neutral

    Votes: 1 16.7%
  • Anti-Gun

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    6
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Anthony

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Dec 26, 2002
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Hello Everyone,

I am planning a trip to Orlando, Florida in 2003. As I have a valid Texas concealed handgun license (CHL) I can legally carry in this state under reciprocity. Having confirmed these details I started wondering what the general sentiment toward civilian concealed carry was in Orlando, Florida.

As I have only carried concealed here in Texas I have enjoyed a rather long and positive experience as many carry around here and many others don't particularly care. Also, law enforcement has historically been very positive about it. In the several traffic stops I have had since getting my CHL I have never been disarmed by the law enforcement officer. Most simply asked where the gun was located and asked me to just keep my hands on the steering wheel. Once when three of us were packing multiple guns each the officer just rolled his eyes and said, "Ok ok...just keep the hands where I can see them while I process this. We laughed while he was gone. Another even asked me for carry tips!! No kidding!!

Can anyone shed some light on how the public and local law enforcement view civilian concealed carry in Orlando, Florida?

Thanks for the help.

- Anthony
 
From a former Florida resident

The attitudes of Florida is actually quite pro-gun. CCW has been a reality there for a number of years. Out of sight, out of mind.

No open carry is allowed by Florida law, unlike Virginia.
 
No open carry in Texas either, so you should be going into a familiar CCL situation.

However, you at least need to check packing.org. It seems to me that there are some differences regarding businesses that sell alcoholic beverages.

I'd also do a search through the TFL archives.

Have a great trip! :D
 
Florida was one of the first (if not the first) of the states that have passed "shall issue" carry laws. Our LEOs have had more experience with citizens carrying, and they sure have to be aware of the drop in crime since passage of shall-issue.

I personally have never seen a cop have a problem with someone carrying.

If you happen to be stopped, you are not required to inform the officer that you're carrying, and it's my understanding that such information does not come up when they run your DL#.
 
Florida was one of the first (if not the first) of the states that have passed "shall issue" carry laws. Our LEOs have had more experience with citizens carrying, and they sure have to be aware of the drop in crime since passage of shall-issue.

Actually,

Washington State was the first in 1961. Then New Hampshire and Indiana followed suit around 1980. :)
 
Originally posted by BogBabe
Florida was one of the first (if not the first) of the states that have passed "shall issue" carry laws. Our LEOs have had more experience with citizens carrying, and they sure have to be aware of the drop in crime since passage of shall-issue.

I personally have never seen a cop have a problem with someone carrying.

If you happen to be stopped, you are not required to inform the officer that you're carrying, and it's my understanding that such information does not come up when they run your DL#.

I believe you are correct.
Of course, if the officer asks you to get out of your car, you should inform him at that point and hand over your license (which you should have ready, just in case) because it isn't a great idea to dump that news on them AFTER you're out of the car and they are on the defensive.
 
Originally posted by Gray Fox
Washington State was the first in 1961. Then New Hampshire and Indiana followed suit around 1980. :)

Sorry, I meant Fla. was among the first in the "wave" that began in the late '80s.
 
Originally posted by RikWriter
I believe you are correct.
Of course, if the officer asks you to get out of your car, you should inform him at that point and hand over your license (which you should have ready, just in case) because it isn't a great idea to dump that news on them AFTER you're out of the car and they are on the defensive.

Absolutely. Regardless of what the law does or doesn't require, we should exercise good judgement in these things.

I've never had an officer ask me to exit my car, ask if I had a weapon, or anything else. They write the ticket or warning and move on.
 
Originally posted by BogBabe
Absolutely. Regardless of what the law does or doesn't require, we should exercise good judgement in these things.

I've never had an officer ask me to exit my car, ask if I had a weapon, or anything else. They write the ticket or warning and move on.

Me neither. Hope to never face that situation.
 
On the Subject of Traffic Stops

This is the honest truth. Some years ago, perhaps around 1997, I was stopped in North Central Indiana by a State Trooper for speeding (67 in a 55 FWIW). The first question he asked upon arriving at my window was this:

"Do you have any knives, guns or hand grenades in the vehicle?"

Hand Grenades??? To say I was astounded would be an understatement. ***, I says to myself? In my incredulous state, I craned my neck so I could look him in the eyes and said "EXCUSE ME? WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

Again he says... "Do you have any knives, guns or hand grenades in the vehicle?"

"Uh.. I have a folding knife in the right front pocket of my jeans and another in the armrest of the truck. Did you want to see them?" At that time I had not gotten my CCW so there were no guns in the vehicle.

"No, that's all right. Just checking. Sir, do you know why I stopped you?" And at that point it became what I would call a "normal" stop.

Now, folks, I'd been a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Michigan for twelve years and had never asked, nor had any officer I'd ever worked with ask, an occupant of any vehicle we had stopped if they had any hand grenades. I still have no idea what prompted this particular office to ask that question. (Like I would have said, "Sure, officer, I've got a case of grenades right here behind the seat.")

I got off with a warning ticket, but not being the sharpest crayon in the box, one week later I got stopped in almost the exact same spot doing almost the exact same speed. Different officer, thank you Lord. Again a warning ticket, but no mention of hand grenades this time. :confused:

Edited for spelling and content.
 
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I live in Daytona but work in Orlando and have never had a bad encounter with a LEO. Like others have said we have had CCW for a long time so it's no big deal to them. Check out Packing.org for the latest info on carry here in FL.

Enjoy your trip.
 
He was probably asking it that way because it is different.

It would make most people almost giggle and might put people off guard or make them think - vs the standard "any weapons" where a bad guy might be thrown off just a tad - who knows. Cop probably feels it gives him an edge or something...
 
I have vacationing in Orlando for the last week or so, and so far things seems to be very relaxed as far as guns in general. In the last two weeks I have traveled the entire Gulf Coast from Brownsville TX, to Naples FL. The one contrast here to TX is that there are no signs in FL as to what business allows conceled carry and what business don't. In TX all business's post some sort of signs whether regarding unliscensed or liscensed possesion of a handgun in general. All in all FL seems very freindly. I am going to bum when I have to go back to MN to the land of 10,000 denials. By the way I have a FL CHL which has been great. It has been a trial run for me to when MN finally wakes up
 
Pendragon's right. The reason why they ask if you have any knives, guns, hand grenades, claymores, etc. is usually any law abiding person would chuckle, smile, or say something like you did, like, "Excuse me?" Usually, a criminal, on the other hand, would just answer silly questions like that with a stern "no" and with a straight face. Ingenius, isnt it? ;)
 
My favorite is "Do you have any guns, knives, cruise missiles or nuclear weapons in the car?"

It gave me a case of the giggles. Soon after, the cop started cracking up and let me go with a warning.
 
I only HOPE that if some LEO asks me if I have "any hand grenades" in the car that I will not respond with the first thing which comes to mind, to wit: "Say F*****g WHAT????"

Might earn me a REAL ticket, not just a warning.
 
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