F.S. 2017 WEAPONS AND FIREARMS Ch. 790
members of clubs organized for target, skeet, or trap
shooting, while at or going to or from shooting practice;
or regularly enrolled members of clubs organized for
modern or antique firearms collecting, while such
members are at or going to or from their collectors’
gun shows, conventions, or exhibits;
(h) A person engaged in fishing, camping, or lawful
hunting or going to or returning from a fishing, camping,
or lawful hunting expedition;
(i) A person engaged in the business of manufacturing,
repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or
representative of any such person while engaged in the
lawful course of such business;
(j) A person firing weapons for testing or target
practice under safe conditions and in a safe place not
prohibited by law or going to or from such place;
(k) A person firing weapons in a safe and secure
indoor range for testing and target practice;
(l) A person traveling by private conveyance when
the weapon is securely encased or in a public conveyance
when the weapon is securely encased and not
in the person’s manual possession;
(m) A person while carrying a pistol unloaded and in
a secure wrapper, concealed or otherwise, from the
place of purchase to his or her home or place of
business or to a place of repair or back to his or her
home or place of business;
(n) A person possessing arms at his or her home or
place of business;
(o) Investigators employed by the several public
defenders of the state, while actually carrying out official
duties, provided such investigators:
1. Are employed full time;
2. Meet the official training standards for firearms
established by the Criminal Justice Standards and
Training Commission as provided in s. 943.12(5) and
the requirements of ss. 493.6108(1)(a) and 943.13(1)-
(4); and
3. Are individually designated by an affidavit of
consent signed by the employing public defender and
filed with the clerk of the circuit court in the county in
which the employing public defender resides.
(p) Investigators employed by the capital collateral
regional counsel, while actually carrying out official
duties, provided such investigators:
1. Are employed full time;
2. Meet the official training standards for firearms
as established by the Criminal Justice Standards and
Training Commission as provided in s. 943.12(1) and
the requirements of ss. 493.6108(1)(a) and 943.13(1)-
(4); and
3. Are individually designated by an affidavit of
consent signed by the capital collateral regional counsel
and filed with the clerk of the circuit court in the county in
which the investigator is headquartered.
(4) CONSTRUCTION.—This act shall be liberally
construed to carry out the declaration of policy herein
and in favor of the constitutional right to keep and bear
arms for lawful purposes. This act is supplemental and
additional to existing rights to bear arms now guaranteed
by law and decisions of the courts of Florida, and
nothing herein shall impair or diminish any of such
rights. This act shall supersede any law, ordinance, or
regulation in conflict herewith.
(5) POSSESSION IN PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.
Notwithstanding subsection (2), it is lawful and is not
a violation of s. 790.01 for a person 18 years of age or
older to possess a concealed firearm or other weapon
for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the
interior of a private conveyance, without a license, if
the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is
otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use.
Nothing herein contained prohibits the carrying of a
legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a
private conveyance when such firearm is being carried
for a lawful use. Nothing herein contained shall be
construed to authorize the carrying of a concealed
firearm or other weapon on the person. This subsection
shall be liberally construed in favor of the lawful use,
ownership, and possession of firearms and other
weapons, including lawful self-defense as provided in
s. 776.012.
History.—s. 1, ch. 65-410; s. 32, ch. 69-216; s. 32, ch. 73-334; s. 2, ch. 77-302;
s. 2, ch. 82-131; s. 15, ch. 83-167; ss. 45, 49, ch. 83-334; s. 32, ch. 84-258; s. 68, ch.
85-62; s. 5, ch. 85-332; s. 15, ch. 87-274; s. 2, ch. 87-537; s. 1, ch. 89-60; s. 8, ch.
90-364; s. 1, ch. 93-269; s. 7, ch. 93-416; s. 89, ch. 95-211; s. 1218, ch. 97-102; s.
110, ch. 2006-1; s. 2, ch. 2006-103.
1Note.—Repealed by s. 3, ch. 72-133.
1790.251 Protection of the right to keep and bear
arms in motor vehicles for self-defense and other
lawful purposes; prohibited acts; duty of public and
private employers; immunity from liability; enforcement.—
(1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as
the “Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep
and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008.”
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the
term:
(a) “Parking lot” means any property that is used for
parking motor vehicles and is available to customers,
employees, or invitees for temporary or long-term
parking or storage of motor vehicles.
(b) “Motor vehicle” means any automobile, truck,
minivan, sports utility vehicle, motor home, recreational
vehicle, motorcycle, motor scooter, or any other vehicle
operated on the roads of this state and required to be
registered under state law.
(c) “Employee” means any person who possesses a
valid license issued pursuant to s. 790.06 and:
1. Works for salary, wages, or other remuneration;
2. Is an independent contractor; or
3. Is a volunteer, intern, or other similar individual
for an employer.
(d) “Employer” means any business that is a sole
proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability
company, professional association, cooperative, joint
venture, trust, firm, institution, or association, or public
sector entity, that has employees.
(e) “Invitee” means any business invitee, including a
customer or visitor, who is lawfully on the premises of a
public or private employer.
As used in this section, the term “firearm” includes
ammunition and accoutrements attendant to the lawful
possession and use of a firearm.
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