What is is the legality to open carry or concealed carry an air pistol handgun in a holster in FL ??

Question

I am 27 and just moved to Florida from the crazy gun-controlling state of NJ. Since FL is a shall-issue state, I plan on getting a CWP. I have some shooting experience from the military but I prefer to carry an handgun style air pistol.

This is my preference, please do not question me on that.

Anyway, I purchased one recently down here in FL easy as cake. I know back in NJ, they are illegal.

I know that FL has a law that does not allow open-carry. I want to know if an air pistol that looks like a handgun requires a CWP to carry concealed and or am I allowed to carry it open carry either way? Not sure what the law in FL is defining the use of these guns. I will be using a regular handgun style holster.

Answer 1

You should check with the division on licensing in the state of Florida to get accurate answers to your questions. I wouldn't trust the thoughts or responses from just anyone on Yahoo.

I would check this site for contact information.

http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/contacts/index.html

I would hate to see you get arrested and tell the authorities that you were told by some idiot on yahoo answers that it was legal. :-)

Answer 2

Don't know specifically, though it's probably a good idea to have the permit in any case.
The NRA's site should give links to relevant FL law, from which you should be able to find out specifically.

And for the benefit of a previous poster:

"To prohibit a citizen from wearing or carrying a war arm . . . is an unwarranted restriction upon the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of constitutional privilege."
--WILSON v. STATE, 33 Ark. 557, at 560, 34 Am. Rep. 52, at 54 (1878)

Answer 3

Watch your city ordinances as well as state law. My city considers anything that can launch a projectile over 10 feet to be a weapon.

Just get your CWP.

Answer 4

I imagine that if carrying concealed brass knuckels is considered carrying a concealed weapon then an air pistol would also be illegal. The key words are "concealed weapon." Not concealed gun.

Answer 5

Don't care. Any gun is bad news. People kill people - some of them just happen to use guns. Only military - no civilians - no exceptions.