Gun owners can now openly carry their firearms in Florida.
The change, prompted by a Sept. 10 court ruling that said the state’s ban on open carry is unconstitutional, means Floridians can’t be arrested or prosecuted solely for having a visible gun, according to a memo from Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Although Uthmeier said the court’s decision applies statewide, Florida law prohibits open carry in some establishments, like jails and police departments. Private property owners also have the right to establish their own firearm guidelines.
Here’s where gun owners can, and can’t, openly carry their weapons.
Grocery and retail stores
The law gives these stores discretion.
Publix has banned customers from openly carrying firearms in any of its 880 Florida locations since 2019. The policy is the same for Walmart and Target. Similarly, an Aldi spokesperson said the store asks customers to “refrain from openly displaying firearms.”
Trader Joe’s does not “welcome weapons of any kind” in its stores, according to a 2019 news release.
Private businesses that ban weapons have the right to ask people openly carrying guns to leave. Anyone who refuses to leave a business when asked can be charged with armed trespassing, which is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Theme parks
Weapons are banned from all of Walt Disney World’s properties in Florida, including its four theme parks, water parks, resorts and the Disney Springs shopping district. Visitors who try to bring guns onto Disney properties will be stopped from entering, the company said in a statement after the open carry decision.
The same policy is in place at SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando, Adventure Island and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, according to the written policies on each park’s website. Park rules also prevent visitors from bringing objects that look like weapons, such as water guns or plastic swords.
Schools
Visible and concealed guns are banned from all elementary and secondary schools in Florida. Guns are also banned from school and college athletic events that aren’t related to firearms.
Firearms are banned from all college campuses, but registered students and staff are allowed to carry nonlethal weapons that don’t fire projectiles, like stun guns and pepper spray, according to Florida law.
Firearm restrictions on school campuses have two major exemptions. Sworn law enforcement officers are allowed to carry visible and concealed weapons, and Florida law allows gun owners to keep a secure, concealed firearm in their car on school property.
State and national parks
Firearms are allowed in all of Florida’s state parks except Savannas Preserve State Park in Port St. Lucie, where only law enforcement and conservation officers are allowed to carry a gun.
Visitors can carry guns in accordance with state and local policies in national parks, with the exception of buildings like visitor centers, ranger stations and government offices. State and national park visitors are prohibited from firing their guns on park property unless they receive permission to hunt on approved lands.
Other restrictions
Other places where gun owners can’t bring visible or concealed weapons include:
Courthouses
Polling places
Meetings of the Legislature, school boards and city and county commissions
Bars and other businesses that primarily serve alcohol
Airports
Restaurants are allowed to set their own rules under the law.
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