Florida's permitless carry gun law: What you need to know

DAYTONA BEACH  —  A Daytona State College student carrying a gun without a holster accidentally shot himself Tuesday in the school’s parking lot, only a day after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that eliminates licensing requirements for state residents to carry a concealed firearm in most public places.

Under the new law, which goes into effect on July 1, the student still would have been forbidden from carrying the gun on a school campus, a place where guns remain prohibited in a list of exceptions contained in the bill.

Here’s what you need to know about the state’s new permitless carry law and how it might have applied to Tuesday’s incident in Daytona Beach:

Can I pack a pistol in Publix? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed new permitless carry bill. Here's what it means for you:

What happened at Daytona State College on Tuesday?

Daytona State student Joseph Delbuono, 41, shot himself in the thigh and was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition, according to Daytona Beach Police spokeswoman Carrie McCallister. The shooting was reported at 12:38 p.m., according to dispatchers.

In case you missed it: Daytona State College student accidentally shoots himself on campus

In a press briefing, police Chief Jakari Young said Delbuono was running late for an English class. Police spoke to the instructor who said he did not have any issues with Delbuono and was not aware of any issues between Delbuono and other students, Young said.

Officers arriving at the scene found Delbuono unconscious in the parking with the 9mm Sig Sauer pistol under him, Young said. Young said police are hoping Delbuono will recover because they want to talk to him to learn what he was doing with a firearm on campus.

Police found extra magazines and ammunition in Delbuono's car, but they also found targets which seem to indicate Delbuono had been to the shooting range recently, Young said.

Delbuono will be charged with possession of a firearm on a school campus, a third-degree felony, Young said.

What does the new permitless carry law mean?

Under the legislation, state residents who can legally own a gun will be allowed to carry one without a permit, and training and a background check will not be required to carry concealed guns in public. The law goes into effect on July 1.

More reaction to the bill: What we know about Florida's proposed 'constitutional carry' gun law

The law allows those eligible for a license to carry a gun without going through the licensing requirement and payment of a $97 fee.

A license is still available for those traveling to one of the 24 states where a license to carry is required and has a reciprocity agreement with Florida.

Would the new law allow a student to have a handgun on campus?

No.

According to the bill (CS/SB 150) that DeSantis signed into law on Monday, the law states that guns aren’t allowed on “any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile,” according to the text of the bill.

Other places where guns aren’t allowed, according to the law:

• Any elementary or secondary school facility or administration building;

• Any police, sheriff or highway patrol station;

• Any courthouse or courtroom;

• Any polling place;

• Any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality or special district;

• Any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof;

• Any school, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms;

• Any career center;

• The inside of the passenger terminal of any airport, unless the firearm is encased for shipping to be lawfully transported as baggage;

• Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose.

How many other states have permitless carry laws?

Florida is the 26^th state that does not require concealed weapons license.

The other states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

What do critics say about the law?

Opponents argue that the new law will make the state more dangerous, pointing to previous mass shootings in Florida, including the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and the deadly 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison had harsh words for DeSantis in a prepared statement after the signing.

“Hiding behind closed doors and standing shoulder to shoulder with the NRA, Ron DeSantis just signed legislation that could make it easier for criminals to carry guns," Harrison said.

What do its supporters say?

Supporters had argued that license requirements and fees amounted to asking for a "government permission slip" to exercise a constitutional right.

The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action praised the new law in a prepared statement issued exclusively to Fox News Digital.

"This NRA-spearheaded initiative empowers Floridians to exercise their Second Amendment rights without undue bureaucratic barriers, affirming the fundamental right to self-defense," NRA-ILA Interim Executive Director Randy Kozuch said in the prepared statement. 

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: What does Florida's permitless carry law mean for gun owners?