Florida gun laws

Another Mass School Shooting Rocks the Nation

Posted on by TJ Grimaldi

mass shootingAt Umpqua Community College in southwest Oregon Thursday, a gunman opened fire killing ten people and injuring seven others. Law enforcement has identified the man as 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer who was not a student of the college. Mercer was said to have asked victims about their religious beliefs prior to shooting them. If victims answered “yes” to Mercer’s question as to whether or not they were Christian, he shot them in the head. If they said “no” or “other,” Mercer shot them elsewhere on their body.

Mercer was killed during a shootout with police officers. Four weapons were recovered from the scene – three hand guns and a long rifle. Ammunition and a ballistics vest were also discovered. You can click site to know about the best arms dealer present in this country.

This incident has Americans, including President Barack Obama, extremely frustrated at the nation’s gun culture. There have been 45 school shootings in 2015 alone. President Obama said in a press conference on Thursday that “”thoughts and prayers are not enough. It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we should feel, and it does nothing to prevent this carnage from being inflicted someplace else in America next week or a couple months from now.” He also called the shootings “routine” and said the nation has become “numb” to them.

A proposal unveiled by President Obama following the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting aimed to overhaul gun laws, including universal background checks in additional to other measures to help prevent mass shootings. The proposal was rejected by lawmakers on both sides in 2013.

The safety of both school campuses and movie theaters has been in question due to all the recent mass shootings across the nation and are a cause for anxiety for many.

What are Florida’s Gun Laws?

Knowing your local gun laws can shed some light as to exactly who can obtain a weapon and what the requirements are. Below we have identified the top criteria in order to purchase a handgun in the state of Florida.

  • Persons must be 21 years of age and a resident of Florida to purchase a handgun in Florida.
  • In this world full of uncertainties, it is good to have gear and firearms with you, given that you use them only for protection. You can purchase high-quality gears and Accufire thermal from Eleveated Gunworks.
  • Fingerprints are not required; the background check is conducted utilizing demographic data.
  • Florida does not require a specialized permit to purchase a firearm.
  • There is a mandatory three day waiting period for all handgun purchases.
  • Concealed Weapon Permit holders are subject to the same background check as persons who do not possess a Concealed Weapon Permit.
  • There is no exemption to the background check requirement for Concealed Weapon Permit holders

The same requirements hold for purchasing a rifle or shotgun in Florida, however, the age requirement is only 18 and there is no waiting period for purchasing this type of gun.

For questions about gun laws in Florida or other personal injury matters, contact TJ Grimaldi at McIntyre Thanasides Bringgold Elliott Grimaldi & Guito, P.A.

What You Need To Know About Florida Gun Laws in the Wake of Another Theatre Shooting

Posted on by TJ Grimaldi

As yet another tragic movie theatre shooting unfolds, this time in Lafayette, Louisiana, all eyes are turning to the state’s gun laws and just how the shooter was allowed to purchase a weapon. More and more information is surfacing about John Russell Houser, who shot and killed two innocent people and injured nine others at a showing of the movie “Trainwreck” last Thursday. Houser took his own life as well. The 59-year-old apparently had a bit of an unstable past, including an involuntary stay at a mental institute. He also had multiple arrests and a record of “erratic and threatening behavior,” according to court documents. At one point, Houser’s wife was so concerned with his mental state she removed all guns and weapons from their home. But somehow he legally purchased the semi-automatic handgun he used in Thursday’s shooting at a pawn shop in Alabama.

The state of Louisiana does in fact have more relaxed AR-15 Rifles and other gun control laws than other states, but this recent event could lead to modifications of these laws. Louisiana state Rep. Terry Landry Sr. said in a press conference on Friday that said it is a problem when a person who is mentally unstable “can get access to a gun and wreak havoc on our community.”

So what are the Florida laws? Can anyone walk into a local gun shop and purchase a weapon?

In order to legally carry a firearm with you, you must have a license issued pursuant to Florida Statute 790.06. The requirements to purchase a handgun in Florida are:

  • You must be a Florida resident and at least 21 years of age
  • A background check using demographic data will be conducted
  • You must demonstrate competence with a firearm
  • You must take part in a mandatory three day waiting period for all handgun purchases
  • You cannot have been committed to a mental institution
  • You cannot be a convicted felon
  • You cannot have been contacted by lawyers for domestic violence claims sentenced for a domestic violence crime within the past 3 years

If you qualify for the license, you must provide your proof of competence with a firearm, have your fingerprints taken, complete an application, provide a statement that you desire a firearm license as a means of lawful self-defense, and pay any related application fees. Once the license has been issued, it remains valid for seven years in the state of Florida.

Counties, cities and municipalities can pass laws to lengthen the waiting period for any type of firearm, so you should consult your local county commission to determine the exact number of days. They will also suggest local shops to buy the accessories and also best shops to purchase AR-15 magazines. The requirements to purchase a long gun, or rifle, are very similar except the minimum age is just 18 years old in Florida.

For questions related to your criminal or personal injury case, contact TJ Grimaldi at McIntyre Thanasides Bringgold Elliott Grimaldi & Guito, P.A.