Frequently Asked Questions
- Check your eligibility for a Concealed Weapon/Firearm license
- Possession Restrictions
- Use of Deadly Force for Lawful Self-Defense (Q&A)
- How do I apply?
Check your eligibility for a Concealed Weapon/Firearm license
Take this preliminary questionnaire to check your eligibility for a Concealed Weapon/Firearm license - click here for the preliminary questionnaire.
Possession Restrictions
The following is a list of places where you are restricted from carrying a weapon or firearm even if you have a license. Please note that this is a simplified list. The places marked by an asterisk (*) may have exceptions or additional restrictions. See Section 790.06 (12), Florida Statutes for a complete listing.
- any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05
- any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station
- any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse
- any courtroom*
- any polling place
- any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district
- any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof
- any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms
- any school administration building
- any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption*
- any elementary or secondary school facility
- any area technical center
- any college or university facility*
- inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport*
- any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law
Use of Deadly Force for Lawful Self-Defense (Q&A)
In receiving a license to carry a concealed weapon for lawful
self-defense, you are undertaking a great responsibility. A license
to carry a concealed weapon is not a license to use it. I am sure
you share my hope that you will never find it necessary to use a
weapon in self-defense. If you do, the law will protect you only if
you have acted within the law. Those who are choosing to arm
themselves with weapons should, therefore, be armed with the most
indispensable weapon of all knowledge.
We are providing this
information to you as a service in pursuit of that goal. Only you
can provide the wisdom, restraint, and good judgment that the law
demands of those who possess the ability to take another human life.
Charles H. Bronson
Commissioner
A License to Carry a Concealed Weapon is not a License to use it.
This information was prepared by the Division of Licensing in an attempt to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the use of deadly force for lawful self-defense. Included are examples of real situations involving the legal consequences of the use of deadly force.
Q. What kinds of weapons are included in the concealed
weapons law?
A. The Jack Hagler
Self-defense Act defines concealed weapons or firearms as follows:
handguns, electronic weapons or devices, tear gas guns, knives and
billies. The information provided emphasizes handguns, because they
are one of the most commonly used weapons for self-defense.
Q. What if I am in my vehicle?
A. A person has no duty to retreat in his
lawfully occupied vehicle against a person who was in the process of
unlawfully and forcefully entering or had unlawfully and forcefully
entered an occupied vehicle or had unlawfully and forcefully removed
or was attempting to remove another against that person's will from
the occupied vehicle.
Q. When is a Handgun "Concealed?"
A.
The Florida Legislature defines a concealed firearm as any firearm
“carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal it from
the ordinary sight of another person.” A person carrying a concealed
firearm without a license is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
The penalty for this offense is a prison term of up to five years.
Q. Are there special laws that apply to the use of
Handguns?
A. Yes, special laws apply
anytime anyone uses deadly force, whether or not the weapon is
concealed. Florida law defines deadly force as force that is likely
to cause death or great bodily harm. When you carry a handgun, you
possess a weapon of deadly force. The law considers even an unloaded
gun to be a deadly weapon when it is pointed at someone.
Q. When can I use my handgun to protect myself?
A. Florida law justifies use of deadly force
when you are:
- Trying to protect yourself or another person from death or serious bodily harm;
- Trying to prevent a forcible felony, such as rape, robbery, burglary or kidnapping.
Using or displaying a handgun in any other circumstances could result in your conviction for crimes such as improper exhibition of a firearm, manslaughter, or worse.
Example of the kind of attack that will not justify defending yourself with deadly force: Two neighbors got into a fight, and one of them tried to hit the other by swinging a garden hose. The neighbor who was being attacked with the hose shot the other in the chest. The court upheld his conviction for aggravated battery with a firearm, because an attack with a garden hose is not the kind of violent assault that justifies responding with deadly force.
Q. What if someone uses threatening language to me so
that I am afraid for my life or safety?
A.
Verbal threats are not enough to justify the use of deadly force.
There must be an overt act by the person which indicates that he
immediately intends to carry out the threat. The person threatened
must reasonably believe that he will be killed or suffer serious
bodily harm if he does not immediately take the life of his
adversary.
Q. What if someone is attacking me in my own home?
A. The courts have created an exception to the duty
to retreat called the “castle doctrine.” Under the castle doctrine,
you need not retreat from your own home to avoid using deadly force
against an assailant. The castle doctrine applies if you are
attacked in your own home by an intruder.
Q. What if I am in my place of business and someone comes
in to rob me? Do I have to retreat before using deadly force?
A. The castle doctrine also applies when you are in
your place of business. If you are in danger of death or great
bodily harm or you are trying to prevent a forcible felony, you do
not have to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense.
Q. What if I point my handgun at someone but don't use
it?
A. Never display a handgun to gain
"leverage" in an argument. Threatening someone verbally while
possessing a handgun, even licensed, will land you in jail for three
years. Even if the gun is broken or you don't have bullets, you will
receive the mandatory three-year sentence if convicted. The law does
not allow any possibility of getting out of jail early.
Example:
In a 1987 case, a woman refused to pay an automobile mechanic who
she thought did a poor job repairing her car. They argued about it,
and the mechanic removed the radiator hose from the car so she
couldn't drive it away. She reached into her purse, pulled out an
unloaded gun, and threatened to kill the mechanic if he touched her
car again. The mechanic grabbed the gun and called the police.
The woman was convicted of aggravated assault with a firearm and
sentenced to serve a mandatory three-year prison term. The fact that
the gun was not loaded was irrelevant. Even though she was the
mother of three dependent children and had no prior criminal record,
the statute does not allow for parole. Her only recourse was to seek
clemency from the Governor.
Q. When can I use deadly force in the defense of another
person?
A. If you see someone who is
being attacked, you can use deadly force to defend him/her if the
circumstances would justify that person's use of deadly force in
his/her own defense. In other words, you "stand in the shoes" of the
person being attacked.
Q. What if I see a crime being committed?
A. A license to carry a concealed weapon does not
make you a free-lance policeman. But, as stated earlier, deadly
force is justified if you are trying to prevent the imminent
commission of a forcible felony. The use of deadly force must be
absolutely necessary to prevent the crime. Also, if the criminal
runs away, you cannot use deadly force to stop him, because you
would no longer be "preventing" a crime. If use of deadly force is
not necessary, or you use deadly force after the crime has stopped,
you could be convicted of manslaughter.
Q. If I get a license to carry a concealed weapon, can I
carry it anywhere?
A. No. To get a
license you must sign an oath that you have read and understand the
Jack Hagler Self-defense Act (Section 790.06, Florida Statutes).
That statute lists several places where you may not carry a
concealed weapon. You should read subsection 12 for a complete list,
but some examples are football, baseball, and basketball games
(college or professional) and bars.
A cool head and even temper
can keep handgun carriers out of trouble. You should never carry a
gun into a situation where you might get angry.
Summary
- Never display a handgun to gain "leverage" in an argument, even if it isn't loaded or you never intend to use it.
- The amount of force that you use to defend yourself must not
be excessive under the circumstances.
Never use deadly force in self-defense unless you are afraid
that if you don't, you will be killed or seriously injured;
Verbal threats never justify your use of deadly force;
If you think someone has a weapon and will use it unless you
kill him, be sure you are right and are not overreacting to the
situation. - The law permits you to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense. Carrying a concealed weapon does not make you a free-lance policeman or a "good samaritan."
- Never carry your concealed weapon into any place where
the statute prohibits carrying it.
This is not a complete summary of all the statutes and court opinions on the use of deadly force. Because the concealed weapons statute specifies that concealed weapons are to be used for lawful self-defense, we have not attempted to summarize the body of law on lawful defense of property. This information is not intended as legal advice. Every self-defense case has its own unique set of facts, and it is unwise to try to predict how a particular case would be decided. It is clear, however, that the law protects people who keep their tempers under control and use deadly force only as a last resort.
How do I apply for a license?
Applications are available online (Concealed Weapon or Firearms or Private Investigation, Recovery and Security ) or by contacting any of our regional offices. Information regarding eligibility requirements and the application process is provided in the application instructions booklet included with your application.