I’m going to do a bit of “Q&A” today.

First question…

QUESTION: What Does Concealed Carry Mean?

ANSWER: Concealed carry is when your firearm is physically on your body or about your person.

Florida Statutes 790.001(2) "Concealed firearm" means any firearm, ..., which is carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person.

The term "about your person" means the firearm is in such close proximity that it can be retrieved and used as quickly as if it were carried on your person. This would include a purse, backpack, or briefcase.

The term "concealed" means your firearm or weapon must be hidden. No one should be able to look at you and notice that you have a gun under your clothing.

Next question…

QUESTION: What Is Printing and Why Is It Important?

ANSWER: Printing is when you can see the rough shape or outline of your firearm through your clothing. In the state of Florida, printing is not a crime unless it is done with intent. However, even though it's not a crime, you will scare most people who see you. Some people may avoid you, and others may overreact and attack you.

On January 20, 2015, Clarence Daniels, who is a Florida concealed weapons permit holder, was walking into a Walmart in Brandon, FL, when suddenly he was attacked. Brandon Curtis, the attacker, noticed that Daniels had a firearm under his shirt and decided to slam him to the ground.

Curtis began screaming, "He's got a gun! He's got a gun!"

Two men rushed in and pinned Daniels to the ground, removed his firearm, and detained him until the police arrived. When the police arrived, Curtis was surprised when he found out he was the one who was going to jail. What Curtis didn't realize is that you cannot attack someone just because they have a gun. Thankfully, Daniels was okay, and we got to learn a valuable lesson from this incident.

Printing is dangerous and could get you hurt or even killed. Printing can easily be prevented in a few different ways…

Strategy 1 - You need to wear clothing that allows you to conceal your firearm correctly. This could include a garment over your t-shirt or clothing with patterns.

Strategy 2 - Avoid purchasing a large firearm that is not designed for concealed carry. When selecting a gun, most people focus on what feels comfortable in their hands, and they don't think about how it will feel in their waistband for 12-plus hours a day. I believe it's more important to have a firearm on you 100% of the time than to have one that fits your hand perfectly 10% of the time.

Alright, one more…

QUESTION: What If Someone Accidentally Sees My Firearm?

ANSWER: Florida Statutes 790.053 (1) ... It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm … to briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.

Several years ago, while shopping in a hardware store, I reached up for a product and I noticed the woman's face down the aisle, a look of fear. She definitely saw my gun, and it scared the crap out of her.

What would you do in this situation? I decided to explain to her that it was an accident and that I'm a valid concealed carry permit holder. Take a guess what I did next. I got the hell out of that store. What's that woman going to do after she sees my gun? She may do nothing, but she may tell someone, and eventually, the cops are going to show up. In my experience, people don't always tell the truth when they dial 911…

And I don’t want a team of SWAT running in and telling me to get on the ground!

Accidental showings are just that: accidents. However, people will get scared and the police are going to show up. Be smart. If someone sees your firearm, get as far away from that situation as possible.   

The GOOD news is…

In my book Florida Concealed Carry Law, I answer over 297  questions about Florida gun law just like these…

So that you can carry your firearm confidently and avoid making a costly mistake….

And the best part is that you can claim a copy of my best-selling book for FREE… All you have to do is cover the shipping…

Get Your FREE Copy Of Florida Concealed Carry Law Here

That's all I have for today. So until next time keep training and stay safe…

Ryan G. Thomas

P.S. You’re one step away from getting your Florida concealed carry permit….FAST & EASY…

And for a limited time you can watch the concealed carry course online for free... Click here to get started...