Florida Carry...

[whiskey]

I lived in Florida for 7 years. I had a CCW permit the entire time. While I was exempt from having to take the ccw class, I sat through it anyway. As we all know, the class is only as good as the instructor. However, the answer to your question, when I attended the class, was that there was no law preventing you from having a drink while CCW. In Florida, CCW is not limited to a pistol either. Like stated before, don't sit in the bar area at Outback or Olive Garden. Don't sit at the bar at Hooters. Don't go into a bar that allows smoking. You can go into a bar-looking joint, if they are non-smoking and you sit at a table and they sell food. Generally in Florida a real Bar allows smoking because they do not earn 51 percent of their income from food. Another good thing is, if you do remove your gun, you can just place it in the glove box and go about your business. Florida also has a "you don't have to retreat" law.

[titan14]

Thanks whiskey!...I more than likely won't even test this...but...i was thinking that i will probably have a beer with lunch and don't want to leave my pistola in the rental car....

[hkusp40cal]

When I was stationed there (KWNAS) in 92-96 I was told it isn't illegal to have a beer and carry however, if an officer "sees" the firearm and you are drinking or acting drunk, he can take you into custody for "public safety". It is up to the discretion of the officer. Take that for what it is worth but the advice did come from a Monroe country reserve officer who was a member of our squadron.

[Guest Britestar]

As a former resident, and teacher of the CONCEAL carry class in Fl. also a retail/LE gun store. Do not carry and drink if caught you will get arrested. Also most LE interpert that as If the establishment (restraunt) sells liquor then you cannot carry. One might carry in a hotel that has a restraunt in it that sells liquor as long as one does not go into the part of the hotel (restraunt) where the liquor is sold.

[titan14]

OK...now i'm more confused than ever....guess i'll leave the damn pistols in TN....:confused:

[whiskey]

Also most LE interpert that as If the establishment (restraunt) sells liquor then you cannot carry. One might carry in a hotel that has a restraunt in it that sells liquor as long as one does not go into the part of the hotel (restraunt) where the liquor is sold.

I don't know about most, but the two county deputies and one city officer I am going hog hunting with in Rosewood, FL next week do not interpret it this way. The statute is pretty clear on ccw go and no go establishments. Basically it states, and I am paraphrasing from the below statute "a PORTION of an establishment PRIMARILY DEVOTED to the dispense alcohol" Just don't sit in the bar.

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : flsenate.gov

"(12) No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize any person to carry a concealed weapon or firearm into any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05; any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station; any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse; any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom; any polling place; any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district; any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof; any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms; any school administration building; any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose; any elementary or secondary school facility; any career center; any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile; inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law. Any person who willfully violates any provision of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083."