Florida Senate - 2019 SB 1122
By Senator Pizzo
38-01541-19 20191122__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to licenses to carry concealed weapons
3 or firearms; amending s. 790.06, F.S.; reducing the
4 number of years that such licenses are valid;
5 requiring that certain persons successfully
6 demonstrate firearms proficiency through a specified
7 course to obtain a license; providing course
8 requirements; providing an effective date.
9
10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. Subsection (1) and paragraph (h) of subsection
13 (2) of section 790.06, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
14 790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.—
15 (1) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is
16 authorized to issue licenses to carry concealed weapons or
17 concealed firearms to persons qualified as provided in this
18 section. Each such license must bear a color photograph of the
19 licensee. For the purposes of this section, concealed weapons or
20 concealed firearms are defined as a handgun, electronic weapon
21 or device, tear gas gun, knife, or billie, but the term does not
22 include a machine gun as defined in s. 790.001(9). Such licenses
23 shall be valid throughout the state for a period of 4 7 years
24 after from the date of issuance. Any person in compliance with
25 the terms of such license may carry a concealed weapon or
26 concealed firearm notwithstanding the provisions of s. 790.01.
27 The licensee must carry the license, together with valid
28 identification, at all times in which the licensee is in actual
29 possession of a concealed weapon or firearm and must display
30 both the license and proper identification upon demand by a law
31 enforcement officer. Violations of the provisions of this
32 subsection shall constitute a noncriminal violation with a
33 penalty of $25, payable to the clerk of the court.
34 (2) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
35 shall issue a license if the applicant:
36 (h) Demonstrates competence with a firearm through the
37 satisfaction of any one the following requirements by any one of
38 the following:
39 1.a. Completion of any of the following instructional
40 courses:
41 (I) Any hunter education or hunter safety course approved
42 by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a similar
43 agency of another state;
44 (II)2. Completion of Any National Rifle Association
45 firearms safety or training course;
46 (III)3. Completion of Any firearms safety or training
47 course or class available to the general public offered by a law
48 enforcement agency, junior college, college, or private or
49 public institution or organization or firearms training school,
50 using instructors certified by the National Rifle Association,
51 Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, or the
52 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
53 (IV)4. Completion of Any law enforcement firearms safety or
54 training course or class offered for security guards,
55 investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision
56 of a law enforcement agency or security enforcement; or
57 5. Presents evidence of equivalent experience with a
58 firearm through participation in organized shooting competition
59 or military service;
60 6. Is licensed or has been licensed to carry a firearm in
61 this state or a county or municipality of this state, unless
62 such license has been revoked for cause; or
63 (V)7. Completion of Any firearms training or safety course
64 or class conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle
65 Association certified firearms instructor.;
66
67 A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the courses
68 or classes; an affidavit from the instructor, school, club,
69 organization, or group that conducted or taught such course or
70 class attesting to the completion of the course or class by the
71 applicant; or a copy of any document that shows completion of
72 the course or class or evidences participation in firearms
73 competition shall constitute evidence of qualification under
74 this paragraph.
75 b. Persons who complete an instructional course pursuant to
76 sub-sub-subparagraph a.(I), sub-sub-subparagraph a.(II), sub
77 sub-subparagraph a.(III), or sub-sub-subparagraph a.(V) shall
78 demonstrate their proficiency safely handling and discharging a
79 firearm through the completion of the following course of fire
80 proficiency demonstration with a minimum score of 70 percent:
81 (I) Stage one.—Twenty shots must be fired from a distance
82 of 3 yards, as follows: five shots must be fired in a “one-shot
83 exercise” with 2 seconds allowed for each shot, 10 shots must be
84 fired in a “two-shot exercise” with 3 seconds allowed for each
85 two-shot sequence, and five shots must be fired in 10 seconds.
86 (II) Stage two.—Twenty shots must be fired from a distance
87 of 7 yards, as follows: five shots must be fired in 10 seconds,
88 five shots must be fired in two stages: two shots must be fired
89 in 4 seconds and three shots must be fired in 6 seconds, five
90 shots must be fired in a “one-shot exercise” with 3 seconds
91 allowed for each shot, and five shots must be fired in 15
92 seconds.
93 (III) Stage three.—Ten shots must be fired from a distance
94 of 15 yards, as follows: five shots must be fired in two stages:
95 two shots must be fired in 6 seconds and three shots must be
96 fired in 9 seconds, and five shots must be fired in 15 seconds.
97
98 All courses of fire proficiency demonstration must be scored on
99 a standard B-27 target that must be 24 inches by 45 inches in
100 size. The target must be scored using the 5, 4, 3 scoring
101 diagram in the upper left corner of the target. Optical
102 enhancers may not be used during the course of fire proficiency
103 demonstration. The course of fire proficiency demonstration must
104 be completed using live ammunition. Proficiency scores must be
105 reported by the course provider or instructor to the Department
106 of Agriculture and Consumer Services on a form approved by the
107 department. The course provider or instructor shall maintain
108 records of the course of fire proficiency demonstration for 3
109 years certifying that he or she observed the student safely
110 handle the firearm in his or her presence and that the student
111 completed the course of fire proficiency demonstration;
112 2. Presents evidence of equivalent experience with a
113 firearm through participation in an organized shooting
114 competition or military service; or
115 3. Is licensed or has been licensed to carry a firearm in
116 this state or a county or municipality of this state, unless
117 such license has been revoked for cause A person who conducts a
118 course pursuant to subparagraph 2., subparagraph 3., or
119 subparagraph 7., or who, as an instructor, attests to the
120 completion of such courses, must maintain records certifying
121 that he or she observed the student safely handle and discharge
122 the firearm in his or her physical presence and that the
123 discharge of the firearm included live fire using a firearm and
124 ammunition as defined in s. 790.001;
125 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.