Florida committee passes concealed carry protection bill

By Chris Eger

Florida Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, debates on the House floor April 18, 2017. (Photo: myfloridahouse.gov)
Under a proposal advanced in the state House this week, Floridians with a concealed carry license wouldn’t be criminally liable if their firearm is temporarily displayed.
The measure, HB 39, sped through the House Criminal Justice Sub-Committee Monday 9-4 with the sponsor of the bill arguing it is needed to keep well-meaning gun owners from being prosecuted — but made clear it is not an open carry proposal.
“What we are trying to do here is say that it is not criminal to accidentally show your weapon if you are a law-abiding citizen and you have this concealed weapons permit, so that’s the point of this,” said Majority Whip, state Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral.
Eagle’s bill would change the penalties under Florida law for an open carry violation, distinguishing between a violation by someone licensed to carry a concealed weapon and a violation by one without a license. Under the proposal, license holders who are charged with breaking the state’s ban on open carry would face a noncriminal violation and be liable for a $25 fine. Unlicenced open carriers would still face a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by

Source: Guns.com