Florida Shooters Network

The 2011 revision to 790.053 allows "brief and open display" of a firearm. Neither "brief" nor "open" are defined, in .053 or in the definitions in 790.01. Apparently we will have to wait for the courts to decide.

In the meantime, two questions:

1. Is "printing" considered open or concealed?

2. If 1-2" of a holster appears below the bottom of a jacket or shirt, is a firearm still concealed? (Holster only, no portion of a firearm itself showing, such as exposed muzzle.)

Is there any case law on this? Anyone with direct experience (not "well, my third cousin twice removed said...", or even worse "a guy at the gun sop said...")?

1. concealed - See Gutmacher's book
2. See Gutmacher's book

Did Gutmacher's book took in consideration the new law that Scott just signed?

The new law does not change the definition of open, it just allows officer discretion for accidental exposure.

Synaptic Misfire wrote:1. concealed - See Gutmacher's book
2. See Gutmacher's book

I have the 2007 edition of Gutmacher's book, and I don't see either of my questions answered.

Then again, my wife tells me I'm blind, so maybe a page reference... ?

My questions really don't relate to the 2011 change in the law. Simply, is "printing" or allowing 1-2" of holster to protrude below a garment considered "open."

http://archive.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/0790ContentsIndex.html

Look under "Definitions" - F.S. 790.001(3)(a).

A concealed weapon is one that is concealed from the ordinary sight of another person.

"Printing" is not the same as exposing your weapon unless you're in a wet T-shirt contest or your shirt is otherwise see-through.

A visible holster is not an exposed weapon - it is a holster - but this doesn't mean you wont get hassled by an overly-zealous LEO. However, if the barrel of your gun extends past the end of said visible holster such that another person can see the barrel with their ordinary sight, you're exposing your weapon.

This is my interpretation - read the law and draw your own conclusions.

Jarhead05 wrote:

Synaptic Misfire wrote:1. concealed - See Gutmacher's book
2. See Gutmacher's book

I have the 2007 edition of Gutmacher's book, and I don't see either of my questions answered.

Then again, my wife tells me I'm blind, so maybe a page reference... ?

My questions really don't relate to the 2011 change in the law. Simply, is "printing" or allowing 1-2" of holster to protrude below a garment considered "open."

Page 84, seventh edition.

OBTW the changes for the new laws are in Gutmacher's update page < http://www.floridafirearmslaw.com/Flori ... dates.html >. It doesn't say anything about the definitions we're discussing, but that's where the new info is located..

Allan - Note to self -- "Self, call Gutmacher and order 10 more books..." sold that last one I had on Saturday..

Thanks Moe, my copy got permanently "borrowed", but I knew it was in there.