weapons charges in florida
Know the Difference Between Misdemeanor and Felony Gun Charges
Gun laws in Florida are strict, and they have changed greatly over the past few years. Punishment for weapons charges in Florida can range from a misdemeanor all the way to a felony, so it’s important to get the facts.
State gun carry laws [Florida Statute 790.25(3)] permit open carry only if allowed by your job (sheriff, marshal, military, etc.) or if you are fishing, camping or lawfully hunting. To carry a concealed weapon, you must have a concealed weapons permit that’s issued either by the State Florida or by a reciprocating state.
When it comes to concealed weapons in Florida, the state also differentiates between firearms (which generally covers guns) and weapons (which may include box cutters, brass knuckles, chemical weapons, tear gas guns and other lethal means).
Here are the crimes and penalties you could face with a weapons charge in Florida:
Weapons-related felonies
Weapons-related misdemeanors
Other Florida gun laws of note
If you use a firearm during certain violent crimes, you may face Florida’s strict 10-20-life rule. This sets mandatory prison sentences of 10 years for possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime, 20 years if the firearm was discharged during the commission of the crime, and 25 years to life if anyone was shot or killed during the commission of the crime.
In addition, the tragic February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, led to the passing of Senate Bill 7026 (2018). The bill raises the minimum age to buy rifles to 21, extends the three-day waiting period for handgun purchase to include long guns, and bans bump stocks.
Long story short, if you are charged with any sort of weapons violation in Florida, the penalties could be serious. Seek a lawyer who will defend your freedom. The attorneys at the Filler & Hedum Law Firm in Longwood, Seminole County, will work to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
Gun laws in Florida are strict, and they have changed greatly over the past few years. Punishment for weapons charges in Florida can range from a misdemeanor all the way to a felony, so it’s important to get the facts.
State gun carry laws [Florida Statute 790.25(3)] permit open carry only if allowed by your job (sheriff, marshal, military, etc.) or if you are fishing, camping or lawfully hunting. To carry a concealed weapon, you must have a concealed weapons permit that’s issued either by the State Florida or by a reciprocating state.
When it comes to concealed weapons in Florida, the state also differentiates between firearms (which generally covers guns) and weapons (which may include box cutters, brass knuckles, chemical weapons, tear gas guns and other lethal means).
Here are the crimes and penalties you could face with a weapons charge in Florida:
Weapons-related felonies
- Carrying a concealed firearm without a license is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, up to 5 years of probation and up to $5,000 in fines.
- Possession or discharging a weapon at a school-sponsored event is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, up to 5 years of probation, and up to $5,000 in fines.
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, up to 15 years of probation and up to $10,000 in fines.
Weapons-related misdemeanors
- Carrying a concealed weapon is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment, up to 1 year of probation and up to $1,000 in fines.
- Improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon or firearm – used in a rude, careless, angry or threatening manner in the presence of at least one other person – is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail, up to 1 year of probation and up to $1,00 in fines.
- Minor (under age 16) possession of a loaded firearm is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and up to $500 in fines.
Other Florida gun laws of note
If you use a firearm during certain violent crimes, you may face Florida’s strict 10-20-life rule. This sets mandatory prison sentences of 10 years for possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime, 20 years if the firearm was discharged during the commission of the crime, and 25 years to life if anyone was shot or killed during the commission of the crime.
In addition, the tragic February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, led to the passing of Senate Bill 7026 (2018). The bill raises the minimum age to buy rifles to 21, extends the three-day waiting period for handgun purchase to include long guns, and bans bump stocks.
Long story short, if you are charged with any sort of weapons violation in Florida, the penalties could be serious. Seek a lawyer who will defend your freedom. The attorneys at the Filler & Hedum Law Firm in Longwood, Seminole County, will work to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
Free Consultation and Criminal Law Case Review
To learn more about your legal rights in a weapons violation case, call Filler & Hedum Law today for a free consultation. We’ll sit with you, answer all of your questions, outline a specific plan of attack that we will use for your defense, and fully explain all costs and fees associated with your defense. It is your life. There are no games, no secrets, no surprises with Filler & Hedum Law – just complete truth, commitment and legal expertise.
Filler & Hedum---There When You Need 'Em 407-772-0700.
Filler & Hedum---There When You Need 'Em 407-772-0700.
