Florida law bars gun sales during states of emergency. For 2 West Palm businesses, 'it's crippling'

[TexasTowelie]

WEST PALM BEACH — Written into Florida laws regarding states of emergencies amid civil unrest are three paragraphs about guns.

One prohibits gun sales. Another bars stores from displaying any firearms or ammunition. And the third forbids anyone but law enforcement and military officers from the “intentional possession in a public place of a firearm.”

“Basically this is saying, don’t bring a gun to a peaceful protest,” said Chief Assistant State Attorney Adrienne Ellis during a news conference Friday in West Palm Beach.

And if you do, “We will prosecute,” she said.

Read more: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200605/florida-law-bars-gun-sales-during-states-of-emergency-for-two-west-palm-businesses-its-crippling

[RussellCattle]

1. Finally, a reasonable response to the idiocy that we are seeing way too often....

....when the 2nd amendment gun lovers and make believe special ops clowns want to play dress up and interfere with a peaceful demonstration.

[Chainfire]

2. Guns certainly have no place in potentially volatile places, but I bet

You will see further stories, and probably NRA lawsuits over the issue.

I am certainly no lawyer, and it may take one to sort out the details, but to the best of my understanding, Florida state law reserves gun law enactment to the House and Senate, and specifically forbids localities from enacting more restrictive measures than state law.(no thanks to the NRA lobbying)

Florida is not in a State of Emergency based upon civil unrest. The restrictions, stated in the article, only seem to apply to the City of West Palm Beach. I know that the big box sporting goods stores, as well as gun shops and pawn shops have been open in my end of the state and have been selling guns and ammo like they were going out of style, so it is not a state-wide ban of sales or display of guns or ammo.

Openly carrying firearms in public in Florida is already illegal except for those involved in activities such as hunting, fishing, camping and shooting sports, so you will not see AR15s at the Statehouse, or on the shoulders of right-wing "patriots" in public places. Even the NRA couldn't get open carry in Florida because we know it would scare off our European visitors, and scare off all of the money they bring.