Chapter 790, Florida Statutes governs the carrying of weapons, bombs, firearms, or just about any other destructive device that you can think about. The chapter is lengthy and complex with many different rules and sentences for different kinds of weapons and scenarios. The universal theme of the chapter, however, is not complex and not hard to find. Police officers, State Prosecutors, Courts, and law makers take these kinds of charges extremely seriously. It is not uncommon for prosecutors to seek felony convictions and/or jail time for even first time offenders. Without a knowledgeable and highly skilled attorney by your side, one who knows the law and the court system, the outcomes can be disastrous.

A "carrying" charge typically occurs after a traffic stop or a detainment for some other offense. The stopping officer will usually ask for weapons on your person or in your car, or may even "frisk" you or search your vehicle. There are very strict rules on when an officer can invade your privacy, and our attorneys know how to attach those cases where officers did not play by the rules. Aside from stop issues, many of these cases can be resolved by a simple review of the facts of the case. Remember, under this chapter, the weapon or firearm must be "carried" by the defendant. Chapter 790 defines carrying and concealed as any weapon/firearm that is "carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal" it from the "sight of another person." Many times officers will simply locate a weapon in a car and charge the defendant. They are using the "on or about" language to justify the charge. Our attorneys know the law and know how to attack these cases when they arise. If you have been charged with such an offense, do not hesitate to contact our Jacksonville criminal defense attorneys.

790.001 Definitions.

790.01 Carrying concealed weapons.

790.015 Nonresidents who are United States citizens and hold a concealed weapons license in another state; reciprocity.

790.02 Officer to arrest without warrant and upon probable cause.

790.051 Exemption from licensing requirements; law enforcement officers.

790.052 Carrying concealed firearms; off-duty law enforcement officers.

790.053 Open carrying of weapons.

790.054 Prohibited use of self-defense weapon or device against law enforcement officer; penalties.

790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.

790.061 Judges and justices; exceptions from licensure provisions.

790.065 Sale and delivery of firearms.

790.0655 Purchase and delivery of handguns; mandatory waiting period; exceptions; penalties.

790.07 Persons engaged in criminal offense, having weapons.

790.08 Taking possession of weapons and arms; reports; disposition; custody.

790.09 Manufacturing or selling slungshot.

790.10 Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms.

790.11 Carrying firearms in national forests prohibited.

790.115 Possessing or discharging weapons or firearms at a school-sponsored event or on school property prohibited; penalties; exceptions.

790.12 Permit may be granted by county commissioners.

790.14 Penalty for violation of ss. 790.11 and 790.12.

790.145 Crimes in pharmacies; possession of weapons; penalties.

790.15 Discharging firearm in public.

790.151 Using firearm while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, chemical substances, or controlled substances; penalties.

790.153 Tests for impairment or intoxication; right to refuse.

790.155 Blood test for impairment or intoxication in cases of death or serious bodily injury; right to use reasonable force.

790.157 Presumption of impairment; testing methods.

790.16 Discharging machine guns; penalty.

790.161 Making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging any destructive device or attempt so to do, felony; penalties.

790.1612 Authorization for governmental manufacture, possession, and use of destructive devices.

790.1615 Unlawful throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging of destructive device or bomb that results in injury to another; penalty.

790.162 Threat to throw, project, place, or discharge any destructive device, felony; penalty.

790.163 False report about planting bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction; penalty.

790.164 False reports concerning planting a bomb, explosive, or weapon of mass destruction in, or committing arson against, state-owned property; penalty; reward.

790.165 Planting of "hoax bomb" prohibited; penalties.

790.166 Manufacture, possession, sale, delivery, display, use, or attempted or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction or hoax weapon of mass destruction prohibited; definitions; penalties.

790.169 Juvenile offenders; release of names and addresses.

790.17 Furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited.

790.173 Legislative findings and intent.

790.174 Safe storage of firearms required.

790.175 Transfer or sale of firearms; required warnings; penalties.

790.18 Sale or transfer of arms to minors by dealers.

790.19 Shooting into or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, public or private buildings, occupied or not occupied; vessels, aircraft, buses, railroad cars, streetcars, or other vehicles.

790.22 Use of BB guns, air or gas-operated guns, or electric weapons or devices by minor under 16; limitation; possession of firearms by minor under 18 prohibited; penalties.

790.221 Possession of short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or machine gun; penalty.

790.225 Ballistic self-propelled knives; unlawful to manufacture, sell, or possess; forfeiture; penalty.

790.23 Felons and delinquents; possession of firearms, ammunition, or electric weapons or devices unlawful.

790.233 Possession of firearm or ammunition prohibited when person is subject to an injunction against committing acts of domestic violence; penalties.

790.235 Possession of firearm or ammunition by violent career criminal unlawful; penalty.

790.24 Report of medical treatment of certain wounds; penalty for failure to report.

790.25 Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons.

790.256 Public service announcements.

790.27 Alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties.

790.28 Purchase of rifles and shotguns in contiguous states.

790.29 Paramilitary training; teaching or participation prohibited.

790.31 Armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon's breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited.

790.33 Field of regulation of firearms and ammunition preempted.

790.331 Prohibition of civil actions against firearms or ammunition manufacturers, firearms trade associations, firearms or ammunition distributors, or firearms or ammunition dealers.

790.333 Sport shooting and training range protection; liability; claims, expenses, and fees; penalties; preemption; construction.

790.335 Prohibition of registration of firearms.