New Church Carry Bill Filed in Florida Senate

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.