Overview
- Florida’s First District Court of Appeal struck down the open‑carry ban on September 10 in McDaniels v. State, leaving other Chapter 790 restrictions and sensitive‑location prohibitions in place.
- The Attorney General’s guidance treats the decision as binding statewide for trial courts and underscores that brandishing laws and felon‑in‑possession prohibitions still apply.
- Implementation remains inconsistent as counties issue conflicting directions, with examples including Orange County signaling allowances in parts of government buildings and Osceola’s sheriff asserting no open carry in public government buildings.
- Private property owners and employers may bar firearms on their premises, the parking‑lot statute protects locked firearms in employees’ private vehicles, and refusal to leave after a warning can result in felony armed trespass.
- Seeking clarity on gaps such as long guns in restricted spaces, Rep. Christine Hunchofsky filed HB 63 for the 2026 session, and Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz told judges they retain authority to prohibit weapons in courthouses.