New Church Carry Bill Filed in Florida Senate

By David S. Katz

Yesterday, in the Florida Senate, Senate Bill 598 was introduced.  If passed into law, this bill would authorize a CWFL (Concealed Weapons and Firearms License) holders to carry his/her firearm onto the property of a religious institution EVEN IF there was a school on the property.  Although no law exists in Florida prohibiting the carry of a firearm onto the property of a religious institution, many such institutions also have a school on the property.  As we all know, Florida Statute 790.115 prohibits the carry of a firearm onto school property.  Senate Bill 598 amends section 790.115 by specifically allowing a CWFL holder to carry, “in a concealed manner…upon the property of a religious institution… during religious services or religious institution events when the property also contains a school.  HOWEVER, the bill still prohibits the carry of a firearm during school hours or when curricular or extracurricular school sponsored events are taking place on the property.