In Florida, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulates licenses to carry concealed weapons or firearms. That department issues concealed weapons or firearms permits, and they also revoke them for various reasons. If a person has been convicted of a felony in Florida or any other state, that person is not allowed to own or possess a firearm. However, if a person has been found guilty or pled guilty or no contest to a lesser charge, the department may still suspend that person’s license to carry a concealed firearm or weapon.
Florida law provides that certain people who qualify may obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm. The licenses must be carried with the firearm or weapon, and they are good for seven years.
If a person has been found guilty or entered a plea or guilty or no contest to a misdemeanor involving violence, the department will deny an application for a concealed weapons or firearm permit for a period of three years from the time the criminal sentence has been successfully completed. If a person has an existing concealed firearms or weapons permit, the department will suspend the concealed firearms/weapons permit if a person gets arrested and sentenced for a misdemeanor involving violence. That suspension will last at least three years from the time the sentence is successfully completed. The department will also suspend a concealed weapons/firearms permit if the person has an injunction against violence issued against them.
There is an exception to the rule that a concealed weapons/firearms permit is suspended if the person has been sentenced for a crime involving violence. If the crime that suspended the concealed weapons/firearms license has been sealed or expunged, the law states that the concealed weapons/firearms license should not be suspended.
If you have a concealed weapons or firearms permit, or intend to get one, and are facing a crime involving violence, feel free to contact us for a free consultation regarding your rights. Likewise, if you have a prior case involving violence that is preventing you from getting a concealed weapons or firearms license, you can contact us to see if you are eligible to seal or expunge your case and render you eligible to obtain the concealed weapons or firearms permit.