JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – To better protect military personnel, thousands of concealed weapon license applications for active military and veterans in Florida have been pushed through the process faster.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam announced that in the wake of the attacks on military personnel in the summer of 2015, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has expedited 73,260 applications for current and former service members since July 27, 2015.
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“The men and women who serve and have served our country deserve all of the support we can provide,” Putnam said. “I'm proud that we have been able to expedite so many concealed weapon license applications for our active military members and veterans, and our partnership with tax collectors throughout the state has made this process even more convenient.”
Active-duty military personnel who want to apply for a Florida concealed weapon license should include a copy of their Common Access Card or other form of official military identification with their application when they submit it to the department. The department can also accept a copy of service members' current orders as proof of active duty status. Honorably discharged veterans should submit a copy of their DD 214 long form with their applications.
"Florida Carry, and its all-veteran Board of Directors, appreciate the efforts of Commissioner Putnam and the men and women of the Division of Licensing to make sure our service members who do so much to protect us have the ability to protect themselves and their families without delay," said gun rights attorney Eric Friday, who is general counsel for Florida Carry.
In addition to a new online-renewal process, a first-of-its-kind partnership with tax collectors' offices across the state is making the process of applying for or renewing a concealed weapon license faster and more convenient. Tax collectors can receive applications, take fingerprints and photographs and send the information to the department to process the request for a concealed weapon license.
News4Jax got reaction on Friday from veterans at the VFW post in Jacksonville Beach.
"I put 30 years in the Navy, and I can tell you they never had weapons in the stations before. With the way the world is today, it’s about time they did, at least have somebody there with a weapon," said Navy veteran Walter Fanton.
“I think it’s very reasonable for today’s day and age with some of the things that have happened at recruiting stations in particular. These men are all trained, they know how to use weapons and they know how to keep weapons safe," said Navy veteran George Farnan.
“I think it’s a good thing because of all the lone-wolf attacks we’ve had in the United States. We should be able to protect ourselves," said Air Force veteran Lloyd Stowers.
The 41 tax collectors participating in both the application and renewal process for concealed weapon licenses include the following counties: Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Flagler, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Walton and Washington.
Interested individuals can still apply for or renew a concealed weapon license via mail or at one of the department's eight regional offices in the following locations: Doral, Fort Walton, Jacksonville, North Port, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
There are currently more than 1.7 million Florida concealed weapon licenses. You can find more information about getting a concealed weapon license here.