TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A recent court decision striking down Florida’s open carry ban as unconstitutional has raised new questions about how the ruling aligns with existing gun laws and whether it exposes gaps in the state’s firearm restrictions.
What You Need To Know
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At least one Florida lawmaker is seeking to clarify the state’s gun-free zone laws.
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The law addresses only handguns and concealed weapons, leaving open carry of long guns unmentioned.
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Florida became an open carry state in September after a judge ruled the ban unconstitutional.
Lawmakers are now debating how Florida’s “gun-free zone” laws apply — or fail to apply — to openly carried firearms.
Under current law, openly carrying “a handgun” or any “concealed weapon or concealed firearm” is prohibited in gun-free zones. However, the statute doesn’t specifically restrict the open carry of long guns, such as hunting rifles, shotguns, or AR-15-style weapons.
Democratic State Rep. Christine Hunschofsky expressed concern that this could create a loophole allowing people to bring long guns into areas where other firearms are banned.
“The law never mentioned long guns because we had an open carry ban in Florida,” Hunschofsky said. “A long gun like an AR-15 isn’t considered a handgun, and you couldn’t conceal it. It just wasn’t included in that statute.”
She plans to introduce legislation expanding the definition of “gun-free zones” to cover all firearms, whether carried openly or concealed.
Republican House Speaker Designate Sam Garrison agreed that lawmakers must review Florida’s gun laws to determine what adjustments are needed now that open carry is legal.
“We’re one of the strongest Second Amendment states you’ll find,” said Garrison, a Fleming Island Republican. “That’s not going to change. The question is, what do we do in light of this court ruling? We’re working to figure that out.”
Gun-rights advocates see the issue differently. Luis Valdes of Gun Owners of America argues the state should reduce, not expand, gun-free zones.
“Gun-free zones don’t work,” Valdes said. “They’ve never prevented criminal acts. Criminals don’t care about the law — an imaginary line won’t stop them.”
So far, lawmakers have not indicated whether they plan to address the open carry of long guns in gun-free zones. The 2026 regular legislative session begins in January.
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