A permit, an official document authorizing someone to do something, is widely used in our country. Permits qualify us to do many things, including working, driving, transporting goods, altering a building or structure, and selling food. In addition to being the law, the permit process sets guidelines to promote accountability and transparency when you share the road, do business, or provide a service to other people in the community.
The process includes requirements that must be followed to obtain a specific permit. We do not unleash teens on the roads just because they are a certain age and have access to a car. To get a driver’s permit, students must complete a driver’s training course that includes rules of the road, substance abuse education, and practical, real-life driving skills so they are prepared to get on the roads with the broader population of Orlando drivers and tourists. Before altering a building, a contractor must fill out the application, submit building plans and a budget, and wait for an approved permit. This process keeps builders accountable for building a structure meeting safety and community standards. Food sellers follow different requirements, but they must submit an application, successfully complete product samplings, and submit to routine inspections to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses and to ensure customer safety while keeping their permit valid.
Florida’s New Concealed Carry Permit Law
One permit that will no longer be necessary is Florida’s concealed carry gun permit. The new law, effective July 1, 2023, allows anyone who can legally purchase a gun in Florida to carry concealed weapons without a state permit. The new law does not do away with the permitting program entirely; it just makes it an optional part of gun ownership. The requirements will now be that the weapon needs to be concealed, secured, and the owner must have a valid ID when the gun is in their possession; but no training is required.
Before this law was implemented, the permit process consisted of approximately four hours of classroom time, firearm instruction time, and passing a test of practical knowledge based on the instruction provided. The concern around the carry gun permit has less to do with the certificate you can show after the requirements are complete and more to do with the lack of education and practical training for new and current gun owners. It is difficult to understand the nuances of any job, service, activity, or certainly a weapon without training. Every gun is different; learning how to use the weapon safely before it is concealed in a holster under someone’s shirt, in a locked box, or in a purse is critical. Most firearm accidents are caused by a lack of understanding of basic gun safety rules, and if you don’t learn how to handle a gun properly, mistakes, often fatal mistakes, can happen.
New Criminal Law Practice Area
As a family law attorney, I did not arrive at court to represent my first client without training. Skills are necessary for success, and if you need an expert to help, partner with them, as we have done by expanding our practice to include criminal law. Training is key for safety and responsible gun ownership. Even though a background check and a three-day waiting period are still required to legally purchase a gun in Florida, gun ownership without required training should not be permitted.
Rebecca L. Palmer, Esq. is a Family & Marital Law attorney practicing in Orlando, FL. She is the Managing Partner of the Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group, and she can be reached at rebecca@rlplawgroup.com.
