We all know the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees Americans the right to own weapons. However, that freedom is not without restriction. It’s important to understand how state laws may restrict your rights. So, keep on reading if you are wondering: is it legal to keep a gun in your car in Palm Beach County?

Owning A Gun In Palm Beach County

It’s common in West Palm Beach for gun owners to keep their firearms in the vehicle. You should know that keeping your firearm in your vehicle is as legal as keeping it in your house – so long as it isn’t concealed.

Per F.S. 790.001, a concealed firearm is any that is carried “on or about a person in such a manner that it is hidden from plain sight of another person. What that means in terms of your vehicle is that you can have your gun on your passenger seat or blatantly uncovered on the floorboard. That is considered legal.

However, you must have a license to carry a concealed weapon, per F.S. 790.06. In order to be licensed, one must be:

  • At least 21;
  • Never found guilty of a felony;
  • Not suffer a mental illness;
  • Not suffer a physical infirmity that would prevent safe handling of a firearm;
  • Not found guilty of controlled substances violations in the last three years;
  • Not convicted of a drug offense under S. 893;
  • Not committed for alcohol or drug abuse.

There are some exceptions, though. For example, if you were previously been convicted of drug offenses, but desire a gun for self-defense or demonstrate firearm competence (i.e., complete NRA training or law enforcement safety training), you may still be able to obtain a concealed carry license.

Open carry is a different issue. F.S. 790.053 details the Florida legislature’s stance on open carry of weapons. The law says except as otherwise provided under the law, it’s unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his person any firearm or electric weapon or device. If you have a concealed carry license and you briefly and openly display the gun to the ordinary sight of someone else, that’s not against the law – unless you did so in the context of anger or in a threatening manner that wasn’t necessary for self-defense. This provision doesn’t prohibit open carry of self-defense chemical sprays, non-lethal dart-firing or stun guns.

Unlawfully possessing a concealed firearm in Florida is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. In order to secure a conviction, prosecutors must show the firearm was readily accessible, meaning it was not only being carried but was positioned in a way that it was able to be retrieved and used quickly. Sometimes, the question comes down to, “What does it mean to be concealed?”

In the 2007 case of State v. Brinkle, Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled a firearm placed on the front passenger seat car – but covered by a bouquet of flowers – fit the definition of “concealed.”

If you are stopped and you have a weapon in the car, you must remain calm. You need to keep your hands on the wheel and politely, calmly inform the officer there is a firearm in the vehicle and note its location. At this point, the officer might instinctively pull out their own weapon. It’s important you continue to remain calm, keep your hands on the steering wheel or dash and follow the officer’s instructions. This is true even when you are legally carrying a weapon.

Palm Beach County Gun Laws

If you have been charged with a weapons crime in West Palm Beach, call (561) 614-5000 to talk to Piotrowski Law today!