FLORIDA FIREARMS – Law, Use & Ownership

I was recently asked by a Florida CWL holder whether he could volunteer at his church for providing armed security?  He was confused because he thought he could — but then — he heard that Florida Senator Don Gaetz had just filed a bill [SB92] to allow armed volunteers — but subject to a myriad of new and burdensome regulations — all under the mistaken belief that armed volunteers were not currently allowed.  I checked the bill online — and sure enough — it seemed that the Senator and those seeking his help were under a major misapprehension!!!  F.S. 790.06(13) already solved the exact problem SB 92 was trying to fix — but instead of all the many and burdensome regulations in SB92 — all you needed in the current statute was a valid Florida CWL.   So — I wrote the Senator a letter, and sent him a copy of my book — which had he read it — he would already know his bill was unnecessary, and way too complicated.  Here’s a copy of my letter:

Senator Don Gaetz
District Office
418 West Garden Street, Fourth Floor
Pensacola, FL 32502

Re: Your proposed bill SB 52 (2026)

Dear Senator Gaetz:

I am the author of the book “Florida Firearms” with sales over a quarter million copies since its inception in 1993. I am a former prosecutor, police legal advisor, NRA certified firearms instructor, FFL, and retired criminal defense attorney. A copy of the current edition of my book is enclosed. I am considered by many as the primary legal authority in the State of Florida concerning legal issues dealing with firearms, weapons, and self defense. I would ask you to withdraw SB 52 as being completely unnecessary, and only adding additional and burdensome requirements for those individuals who wish to protect their religious institutions by carrying a firearm. Let me explain.

In 2023 the Legislature passed a revision to the concealed weapons licensing statute by adding subsection 13, to wit:

790.06(13)
(13) Notwithstanding any other law, for the purposes of safety, security, personal protection, or any other lawful purpose, a person licensed under this section may carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm on property owned, rented, leased, borrowed, or lawfully used by a church, synagogue, or other religious institution. This subsection does not limit the private property rights of a church, synagogue, or other religious institution to exercise control over property that the church, synagogue, or other religious institution owns, rents, leases, borrows, or lawfully uses.

The key phrasing in this statutory subsection allows any person licensed in Florida with a Concealed Weapons License the ability to carry a firearm on the premises of a religious institution for virtually any legal purpose – including the security of the institution – despite any law to the contrary. In other words – citizens of Florida with the CWL can already serve as armed security for their churches, mosques, synagogues, and any other religious institution. Therefore, there is no need for your bill – and your bill complicates a situation already solved since 2023.

Respectfully yours,

Jon H. Gutmacher, Esq.