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How exactly is "printing" legal under Florida laws?

Scouts_Out

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
10
Location
Miami, FL
I was hoping that some of the members of this forum who are more educated about guns laws in Florida, could explain to me how "printing" is not illegal. This is because yesterday, as I walked into the local Quiznos, a police officer asked for my CWL after seeing the huge bulk on my 3 o'clock. My Glock 19 was completely covered by my t-shirt but I was wearing a Blackhawk Serpa holster which made the gun stick out pretty far. After giving me back my license, he told me that I wasn't supposed to carry that way, you know, printing. I told him that as far as I understood, printing was not illegal but he kept saying that for it to be considered "concealed", one could not be to tell that the individual was carrying, at all. We kept going back and forth and I soon realized it wasn't gonna go anywhere, so I said "roger, sir" and walked away, which is honestly what I should've done from the beginning instead of trying to explain. I don't disagree that printing is completely legal, just wanna be better informed in the event of another encounter, which I'm sure will happen. Thank you in advance.
 

Rich7553

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
Messages
515
Location
SWFL
I was hoping that some of the members of this forum who are more educated about guns laws in Florida, could explain to me how "printing" is not illegal. This is because yesterday, as I walked into the local Quiznos, a police officer asked for my CWL after seeing the huge bulk on my 3 o'clock. My Glock 19 was completely covered by my t-shirt but I was wearing a Blackhawk Serpa holster which made the gun stick out pretty far. After giving me back my license, he told me that I wasn't supposed to carry that way, you know, printing. I told him that as far as I understood, printing was not illegal but he kept saying that for it to be considered "concealed", one could not be to tell that the individual was carrying, at all. We kept going back and forth and I soon realized it wasn't gonna go anywhere, so I said "roger, sir" and walked away, which is honestly what I should've done from the beginning instead of trying to explain. I don't disagree that printing is completely legal, just wanna be better informed in the event of another encounter, which I'm sure will happen. Thank you in advance.

Cop was wrong. Printing is not and has never been unlawful in Florida.

Per §790.001 FS, “Concealed firearm” means any firearm, as defined in subsection (6), which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person.

Was this Miami-Dade PD? Did you get the officer's name?
 

Ironside

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Messages
103
Location
Ocoee, Florida
Cop was wrong. Printing is not and has never been unlawful in Florida.

Per §790.001 FS, “Concealed firearm” means any firearm, as defined in subsection (6), which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person.


Which begs the question of what is "un-ordinary" or "non-ordinary" sight of another person ?
 

Badger Johnson

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
1,213
Location
USA
Gotta wonder this LEOs thought processes. 'OK, this guy is carrying concealed in such a way that he doesn't care if anyone knows he has a big Glock in a Serpa on his belt. Guess I better stop and permit and ID him because he could be a legal citizen, you never know'. /sarcasm

Meanwhile, actual crime is happening down the street but he's too busy IDing normal citizens to notice.
 

77zach

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
2,913
Location
Marion County, FL
We need open carry in Fl so freaking bad. 90 degrees at 10'oclock at night and we don't have OC. F this.

Basically, there is a case that said a bulge could be anything. Even if they think it looks like a gun. You just can't have part of the firearm exposed too.
 

Fallschirjmäger

Active member
Joined
Aug 4, 2007
Messages
3,823
Location
Cumming, Georgia, USA
I suppose "printing" with a firearm works like wearing a pair of Speedo's as opposed to wearing board shorts.
Someone might be able to discern what you're packin', but as no one see's it you're legal.
 
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RetiredOC

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
1,561
I was hoping that some of the members of this forum who are more educated about guns laws in Florida, could explain to me how "printing" is not illegal. This is because yesterday, as I walked into the local Quiznos, a police officer asked for my CWL after seeing the huge bulk on my 3 o'clock. My Glock 19 was completely covered by my t-shirt but I was wearing a Blackhawk Serpa holster which made the gun stick out pretty far. After giving me back my license, he told me that I wasn't supposed to carry that way, you know, printing. I told him that as far as I understood, printing was not illegal but he kept saying that for it to be considered "concealed", one could not be to tell that the individual was carrying, at all. We kept going back and forth and I soon realized it wasn't gonna go anywhere, so I said "roger, sir" and walked away, which is honestly what I should've done from the beginning instead of trying to explain. I don't disagree that printing is completely legal, just wanna be better informed in the event of another encounter, which I'm sure will happen. Thank you in advance.

Keep carrying on like you are, you are legal and more informed than Law Enforcement. Unfortunately you were not able to quote the law this time, but next time you'll be ready.

“Concealed firearm” means any firearm, as defined in subsection (6), which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person.
 

Scouts_Out

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
10
Location
Miami, FL
Cop was wrong. Printing is not and has never been unlawful in Florida.

Per §790.001 FS, “Concealed firearm” means any firearm, as defined in subsection (6), which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person.

Was this Miami-Dade PD? Did you get the officer's name?

It was Hialeah PD. I didn't get his name but I remember him being a Sergeant. It was my first time dealing with a situation like that so I got a little bit nervous. I've had my permit for over 4 years but I have always been real careful not to print believing it was illegal. It was only after joining this forum that I learned otherwise. I also do it from time to time, print, to prove that banning open carry is dumb and that law abiding citizens with guns on them are not a danger to society.
 

Rich7553

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
Messages
515
Location
SWFL
It was Hialeah PD. I didn't get his name but I remember him being a Sergeant. It was my first time dealing with a situation like that so I got a little bit nervous. I've had my permit for over 4 years but I have always been real careful not to print believing it was illegal. It was only after joining this forum that I learned otherwise. I also do it from time to time, print, to prove that banning open carry is dumb and that law abiding citizens with guns on them are not a danger to society.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Sean had PM'd you on this.
 

mach1chris

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
130
Location
Miami, FL
Print as much as you want as a matter of fact, wear the smallest tightest shirt you can and open carry you're mags. I am more afraid of what I can't see then what I can see. Printing has never been an issue nor has it ever been illegal in Florida so I suggest you do it as much as you can.
 

KBCraig

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
4,886
Location
Granite State of Mind
We need open carry in Fl so freaking bad. 90 degrees at 10'oclock at night and we don't have OC. F this.
Hello from Northeast Texas; 89F at 0300, after a solid week of record breaking temps, and no relief in sight.

I hope I never need a reload, because I haven't carried anything more than a 2" 5-shot .38 since March.
 

77zach

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
2,913
Location
Marion County, FL
Print as much as you want as a matter of fact, wear the smallest tightest shirt you can and open carry you're mags. I am more afraid of what I can't see then what I can see. Printing has never been an issue nor has it ever been illegal in Florida so I suggest you do it as much as you can.

+1

I'm now printing such that everyone can tell I have a gun, it just looks like I'm trying to hide it, which I think is "scarier" for the sheeple than honest OC. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to exploit this angle with our brilliant politicians in Tallahassee.
 
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WalkingWolf

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Messages
11,930
Location
North Carolina
+1

I'm now printing such that everyone can tell I have a gun, it just looks like I'm trying to hide it, which I think is "scarier" for the sheeple than honest OC. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to exploit this angle with our brilliant politicians in Tallahassee.
OK still waiting on the horror flick "Printing in Florida" and the sequel "OC on the way to fishing".:lol:
 

mach1chris

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
130
Location
Miami, FL
+1

I'm now printing such that everyone can tell I have a gun, it just looks like I'm trying to hide it, which I think is "scarier" for the sheeple than honest OC. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to exploit this angle with our brilliant politicians in Tallahassee.

Agreed.... This coming year would be a good idea to start calling politicians and just talk to the about the different angles. I believe Sen. Evers will be trying to change it again next year.
 

ADulay

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
512
Location
Punta Gorda, Florida, USA
OK still waiting on the horror flick "Printing in Florida" and the sequel "OC on the way to fishing".:lol:

Well, I think I've got the "OC on the way to fishing" scenes under control.

Three months of daily OC while fishing or shooting with no problems.

The occasional "brief" display while refueling adds to the mix as needed.

AD
 

mach1chris

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
130
Location
Miami, FL
"I have a dream that my fellow citizen's will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by their desire to Open carry but by the content of their character."

Martin Luther King Jr. :banana:
 

StogieC

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Nov 22, 2009
Messages
745
Location
Florida
"The term "ordinary sight of another person" means the casual and ordinary observation of another in the normal associations of life. Ordinary observation by a person other than a police officer..."
...
"The critical question turns on whether an individual, standing near a person with a firearm or beside a vehicle in which a person with a firearm is seated, may by ordinary observation know the questioned object to be a firearm. The ultimate decision must rest upon the trier of fact under the circumstances of each case."
Ensor v. State 1981


"The officer observed a bulge in the suspect's waistband, which, from his training and experience, he believed was the butt of a pistol or handgun."
...
"The gun in question was tucked in Regalado's waistband and covered by his shirt. Openly carrying a weapon is the opposite of carrying a concealed weapon, which is defined as to be "in such a manner as to conceal the weapon from the ordinary sight of another person."
Regalado v. State 2009

From these two cases it is clear that printing is legal as long as it is not obviously a gun to the untrained, casual, observer.

clip_image002_0000.jpg
If I see this, I would suspect it to be a gun but most people would not even notice; and it could reasonably be his phone, PDA, or insulin pump.
If you are printing and it could reasonably be something other than a firearm, you're fine.

If you look like this...
511-holster-shirt-side2.jpg
Yeah, you're doing it wrong. The untrained, casual, observer will take one look and say "GUN".
 
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