TALLAHASSEE, FL (April 3, 2023) — Today, Firearms Policy Coalition announced that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the FPC-supported HB 543 into law, enacting permitless concealed carry in the Sunshine State. Florida is now the twenty-sixth state to enact such legislation.

Under the new law, which takes effect on July 1, Floridians and non-residents 21 and older will no longer need a license to carry concealed, though individuals must still be legally eligible to possess handguns and be otherwise eligible for a concealed weapon license. Carry licenses will still be available to eligible individuals who wish to acquire one for various purposes, such as compliance with federal law prohibiting firearm possession in school zones (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)) and reciprocity with other states.

"Florida has now tipped the balance of power. More than half of the country will now be able to exercise their fundamental right to carry a firearm without needing a government-issued permission slip," said Richard Thomson, FPC's Vice President of Programs. "We look forward to the day when we can restore this right across the remaining 24 states."

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Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. FPC’s efforts are focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and adjacent issues including freedom of speech, due process, unlawful searches and seizures, separation of powers, asset forfeitures, privacy, encryption, and limited government. The FPC team are next-generation advocates working to achieve the Organization’s strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs.

FPC Law (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s first and largest public interest legal team focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the leader in the Second Amendment litigation and research space.