Florida’s Open Carry Law (Sept 2025): What It Means for Guards, Police & Citizens

Florida has just changed its stance on open carry. As of September 2025, an appeals court struck down the state’s decades-old ban on openly carrying firearms. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has now declared open carry “law of the state,” meaning people who openly carry guns will no longer face prosecution under the old ban.
Politico
In this Fast Guard News episode, we break down:
✅ What the legal change really means for security guards, law enforcement, and average citizens’ responsibilities and risks.
✅ Areas where open carry is still restricted (schools, courthouses, private property, etc.) and what “public places” now cover.
WKMG
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Politico
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✅ How law enforcement will have to adapt — from policing practices to threat assessment.
✅ How clients hiring security, security agencies, and guards themselves need to adjust standard operating procedures.
We also look at recent tragic events, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and discuss how Florida’s open carry law might have changed outcomes (or complicated things) in similar public events:
Would openly carried firearms by others have deterred or escalated the threat?
What kinds of security planning changes are now more essential at public speaking events (screening, perimeter control, rapid response) in an open carry environment.
How visible guns can affect crowd dynamics, panic, mistaken identity, and law enforcement decisions.
Key takeaways for people watching:
Understanding your rights: When you can open carry, when you can’t, and what legal protections vs. liabilities exist.
What security guards and firms must do now: policies, training, communication with local law enforcement.
How citizens should behave, know their rights, and remain aware in environments that changed overnight.
Stay informed, stay safe — open carry changes carry serious implications. #opencarryfl #opencarry