Reply #329: Overall I agree, but I have several issues with what you have listed .... [View All]

"Accidental showing of a CCW is a $100 fine the first, second and 3rd time. (if police are called). Loss of CCW for a year on the 4th."

If the incident is truly accidental and not an attempt to intimidate, there should be no fine.

The Florida legislature passed a bill to decriminalize the accidental showing of a concealed fire arm by a person licensed to carry such a weapon. It awaits the Governor's signature. That would cover incidents such as if the wind catches a permit holders jacket while walking through a parking lot, the weapon is exposed when the person reaches up to grab an item on a high shelf or the weapon is exposed when getting in or out of a car.

From the text of the bill:



Having said that, I have carried concealed for over fifteen years and I don't believe anyone, (including police officers) have noticed that I am "packing". I carry a S&W Model 642 snub nosed revolver in a holster in my pants pocket. One time during the winter, I decided to carry another J frame S&W, a model 60 .357 magnum revolver with a 3" barrel in an inside the waistband holster under a light jacket. A gust of wind caught the jacket while I was walking through a parking lot. Fortunately all the potential witnesses had cell phones glued to their ears and were totally unaware of their surroundings.

While I find the snub nosed pocket rocket very easy to carry, especially during the summer heat, it's a beast to shoot accurately. The Model 60 revolver is definitely not a pocket pistol but is far easier to shoot. If the bill is signed into law, I intend to continue to make every effort to conceal the weapon I am carrying, but if by chance I do flash it, I don't want to face a fine.

"Carrying a gun into a no-gun posted private business would be loss of CCW for 1 year if owner calls police. And if signs were clearly posted and visible at all doors then you are automatically guilty. None of this "I didn't see the sign". Look for the damn sign."

Currently in Florida, the owner of a business can simply ask me to leave. I rarely see "no-guns" signs and I can't remember the last time I seen one but it was probably five years ago at a credit union in Florida. I always left my firearm outside when I conducted my business at this credit union.

If such signs were common, I would be on the look out for them but they are rare in Florida as most businesses are aware that those who have a concealed weapons permit pose no real danger to an establishment or the patrons.

"No automatic weapons."

Fully auto weapons are already tightly regulated and have little history of misuse. I have no interest in owning one because they are EXTREMELY expensive and I can't afford to buy the quantity of ammo to make a trip to the range worthwhile. I knew a couple of people who owned one, a cop and a man who used to run a gun store. In all fairness they have no real purpose in civilian hands except to collectors and people who enjoy shooting them for the shear fun of it. (And they ARE great fun to shoot.)

Fully automatic weapons remind me of switchblades. They have a bad reputation but are cool to play with and are more of a novelty item then a practical weapon. I have one switchblade in my collection which was a present from my son in law who carries one legally in Florida. I enjoy collecting knives and since I retired I always carry a fixed blade knife with a plain edge and a serrated folder. (It's amazing ow many times a day I use my knives rather than look for a pair of scissors or a kitchen knife.) I don't view a knife as a weapon but as a tool. I do own several folding knives that I can open as fast as a switchblade and I carried one of those for years before I retired.

National CCW license would cost no more than $50. Not including initial training.
- The CCW I want requires licensing and a class and proving basic knowledge of handguns and basic shooting. Including a written, non-open book test.
- CCW license good for 5 years and renewal requires another, shorter, cheaper refresher class."

I'm hesitant to grant the Federal government control over concealed carry. It's possible that if you allow the Feds to control concealed carry, they could also take the right away. Much depends on how the law would be written. If they do not take away the states' right to issue licenses but just allow any valid state license to be accepted in all states like drivers license are, I would have no problem.