Firearms Safety Tips

These simple steps may prevent needless and tragic injury or death so often associated with the careless storage and handling of firearms. Responsible and informed firearm owners use these storage and handling methods, without exception, to ensure the safety of those in the home.

• Never store or handle a loaded firearm in the home. Tragedy can occur in only one instance of negligence.
• Keep a trigger locking device on the firearm, in addition to keeping it locked away, as an additional safety factor. There is no such thing as overemphasizing firearm safety.
• Lock firearms and ammunition in separate locations. This is a good backup precaution.
• Never point a firearm at anyone, loaded or unloaded. Too often the unintentional discharge of guns, even those believed to be unloaded, have killed or wounded innocent persons.
• Educate everyone in the home about firearms safety – especially children. Firearms are not toys. Emphasize the danger in, and outside, the home. Give reinforcement training frequently.

Firearm owners must always remember that a firearm may protect life, but it can also be a potential deadly threat to innocent persons. The proper storing and handling of a firearm must always be foremost in the mind of the owner who is responsible for the safety of those in the home.

Section 790.174, Florida Statutes, requires a loaded firearm in the home to be stored in a locked box container or secured with a trigger lock if the owner reasonably knows that a child under the age 16 can gain access to the firearm. A violation of this law is a misdemeanor.

Use of Deadly Force for Lawful Self-Defense

Section 776.012, Florida Statutes, is important Florida law governing the justifiable use of force, including deadly force by private citizens. The link to this particularly important law is provided to our concealed weapon license holders and applicants to ensure access to the most up-to-date statutory language outlining acceptable use of force by Floridians.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is not authorized to provide specific guidance concerning the use of deadly force to concealed weapon license holders.  The department is charged by statute with administering the provisions of the concealed weapon licensing program in accordance with Section 790.06, Florida Statutes, but has no authority to enforce any laws relating to the use of weapons or firearms by license holders.

Possession Restrictions

The following is a list of places where you are restricted from carrying a weapon or firearm even if you have a license. Please note that this is a simplified list. The places marked by an asterisk (*) may have exceptions or additional restrictions. See Section 790.06 (12), Florida Statutes for a complete listing.

• any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05
• any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station
• any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse
• any courtroom*
• any polling place
• any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district
• any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof
• any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms
• any school administration building
• any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption*
• any elementary or secondary school facility
• any area technical center
• any college or university facility*
• inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport*
• any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law

Public Record Exemption