Florida Lawmakers Eye gun-Free Zone Laws Following Open Carry Ruling
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A recent Florida court decision striking down the state’s ban on open carry is raising questions about the scope of existing gun-free zone laws and whether a legal gap now exists regarding long guns. While Florida became an open carry state in September, current statutes specifically prohibit the open carry of handguns and concealed weapons in designated gun-free zones – but remain silent on openly carried long guns like rifles and shotguns.
The ambiguity has prompted at least one state lawmaker to seek clarification. Representative Christine hunschofsky (D) expressed concern that the current law could inadvertently allow individuals to carry long guns into locations where other firearms are prohibited. “The law never mentioned long guns because we had an open carry ban in the state of Florida,” Hunschofsky explained. “So a long gun like an AR-15 is not considered a handgun, and you couldn’t conceal it. It was never mentioned in that statute.”
Hunschofsky is proposing legislation to broaden the language of gun-free zone regulations to encompass all firearms, regardless of whether they are openly carried or concealed.
Incoming House Speaker Designate Sam Garrison (R-Fleming Island) acknowledged the need for legislative review. “We are about as strong a Second Amendment state as you’re ever going to see,” Garrison stated. “That’s never going to change. The question going forward is, what do we do considering the court ruling? And we’re trying to figure that out.”
However, not all groups agree on the path forward. Luis Valdes,of Gun Owners of America,argued against expanding restrictions,asserting that “Gun-free zones don’t work…Criminals don’t care. They break the law – an imaginary line doesn’t stop them.”
As of now, lawmakers have not indicated whether they will take action to address the potential loophole concerning long guns in gun-free zones. The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to begin in January.
