Janet Reno's Ban on Open Carry in Florida

Orlando Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 21 October, 2010 | Sean Caranna

[marktwain]

In 1987 Florida became a "Shall-Issue" state for concealed carry licenses. At the time, Florida had the country’s second highest murder rate and there was much debate about allowing people to arm themselves. Opponents said that there would be “blood in the streets” and simple fender benders would turn in to roadside gun fights.

To ensure that gun owners would not be met with thousands of differing local regulations, the state legislature also passed preemption of all firearms laws. Amongst the ordinances invalidated was Dade County’s ban on openly carrying an unconcealed handgun.

Janet Reno, Assistant State Attorney for Dade County at the time, called on the legislature to close what she called a loophole in the new statewide carry laws and outright ban Open Carry throughout the state. Having just lost their fight against Shall-Issue concealed carry, the future US Attorney General, a handful of Florida Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and newspapers statewide went on the offensive to call for a special session of the legislature to close what they dubbed the “Dodge City Loophole”.

NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer initially fought the open carry ban, explaining that allowing state wide open carry was not a loophole but a carefully planned and considered provision of the carry laws. NRA then announced that they would not fight the open carry ban at that time but pick up the issue during the next regular legislative session. The reason given was to delay implementation of open carry provisions while people became accustomed to concealed carry. While in special session over an unrelated tax matter, the legislature added the open carry ban to the agenda and quickly passed the measure.

[marktwain]

So this is how Florida was stuck with a ban on open carry. It was Janet Reno! How much more history has been spiked by the MSM.

[Roger_Wildcat]

Rick Scott says that he support repealing the open carry ban. So, we’ll see if he holds true to his promise.

“As a member of the NRA and a hunter, I’m a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and I will protect our fundamental right to keep and bear arms. Florida is one of only seven states with wide prohibition on carrying an unconcealed firearm. Repealing the ban on unconcealed or Open Carry will eliminate practical and constitutional problems in Florida.”
-Rick Scott

[WayneS]

The reason given was to delay implementation of open carry provisions while people became accustomed to concealed carry.

Not a logical argument. The areas of Florida which did NOT have bans on open carry did not NEED 'open carry provisions'. For them, there was nothing to 'delay', since THEY could already freely open carry. They suffered FURTHER infringement of their rights when the NRA stopped fighting for them and acquiesced to a NEW state-wide open carry ban.

Furthermore, what is there to become "accustomed" to regarding concealed carry? If a person is carrying their weapon concealed then other people can't see it and therefore have nothing they might 'need' to become "accustomed" to.

[SC_Pete]

Psycho-sexual pathologies are often at the root of irrational decision-making.

[SC_Pete]

Hey, rick,

You may want to quit the NRA now. They have been infiltrated by the DemonRat Party. This is a real shame.

[padre35]

This also demonstrates the flaw in CCW issuance thinking, “if” you can acquire a “license” to carry a firearm, why would you want to openly carry anyway?

CCW’s were used to herd people who did not wish to acquire one into the State’s purview of jumping through the hoops in the process of acquiring a CCW “permit”.