If you think Florida’s permitless carry law allows you to freely carry and transport your firearm without a license, think again!
If you think Florida’s permitless carry law allows you to freely carry and transport your firearm without a license, think again!
Possessing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school zone, while possessing a valid concealed carry license, you are legal. Without one and possessing a firearm, you are breaking both state and federal law.
Monday, June 16, 2025, the Federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the long established federal school gun free zone law (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(A). RULING
The ruling leaves in effect one of the most expansive “sensitive places” restrictions for firearm possession in all of federal law. It deals a blow to Second Amendment advocates who have long felt that the law’s 1000-foot buffer zone around school property is overreaching a excessive.
A person possessing a firearm, within 1,000 feet of a school zone, public or private school, regardless if the school is in session or not, is committing both a state and federal felony.
Possession includes the transportation of a firearm in a private vehicle, traveling through a school zone. Again, regardless if it is a public or private school, it the school is in session or not.
Exception to the law: A person possessing a valid concealed carry license may legally possess or transport a firearm in a private vehicle, within a school zone, notwithstanding, in accordance state and local laws.
The possession of a valid concealed carry weapons license or recognized permit, issued another state, exempts the person from the law.
Learn more about this law and Florida’s other laws regarding the “permitless” carrying of a firearm in Florida. Florida’s “permitless” carry law is not as simple as many believe. In-Gauge of Polk County conducts State of Florida recognized concealed carry classes monthly in Winter Haven. CLICK HERE to see our class schedule and register.
There is definitely a difference between having Florida concealed carry weapons license and not.
Florida takes another step in protecting Floridians’ 2nd Amendment rights during local state of emergencies.
Florida Governor DeSantis signs 2nd Amendment protection law into effect.
The bill, which took immediate effect upon signing on May 28, 2025, removes provisions that previously prohibited the sale, display, and public possession of firearms and ammunition during emergencies such as riots or widespread public disturbances.
Learn more about this law and Florida’s other laws regarding the “permitless” carrying of a firearm in Florida. Florida’s “permitless” carry law is not as simple as many believe. In-Gauge of Polk County conducts State of Florida recognized concealed carry classes monthly in Winter Haven. CLICK HERE to see our class schedule and register.
There is definitely a difference between having Florida concealed carry weapons license and not.
Are you familiar with Florida’s concealed carry law regarding school zones?
Are you aware of Florida’s concealed carry law regarding sporting events?
Are you award of Florida law regarding the transporting of a firearm in a private vehicle and an RV?
Are you aware of Florida law regarding carrying a concealed weapon in a private vehicle?
Not knowing the law regarding any of the above can result in a felony arrest and the permanent loss of your 2nd Amendment rights.
Also, when ‘Nationwide Concealed Carry Reciprocity’ takes effect, you need a license to have reciprocity. You are encourage to complete your Florida concealed carry license qualification training now and avoid the rush once the law goes into effect. When it does, you can expect a 2 -4 week waiting period to get into a class and a 1 – 3 month waiting period to receive your license from the State.
large inventory of all types of firearms, a wide assortment of ammunition, accepts transfers and sells used firearms on consignment. Concealed carry, firearms training and hunter safety certification qualification classes will be taught on site in a large, comfortable classroom.
The Wild Wild West Arms Gun Range is now open for business.
The Wild Wild West Arms Gun Store & Range, located directly on US Hwy. 27, Dundee / Lake Hamilton, Florida, announces the opening of its new, airconditioned, indoor gun range.
Open to the public 7 days a week.
29350 US Hwy. 27, Dundee, FL 33838 (863) 488-6508
Take a tour . . . .
Take A Tour
Wild Wild West Arms has a large inventory of all types of firearms, a wide assortment of ammunition, accepts transfers and sells used firearms on consignment. Concealed carry, firearms training and hunter safety certification qualification classes will be taught on site in a large, comfortable classroom.
The Wild Wild West Arms Gun Store opened its doors for business Saturday, August 20th.
The Wild Wild West Arms Gun Store, located directly on US Hwy. 27, Lake Hamilton, Florida, opened its doors for business Saturday, August 20th.
Wild Wild West Arms promises to be the premier firearms dealer in east Polk County, serving firearm enthusiasts and sportsmen from as far north as Clermont, south to Sebring.
29350 US Hwy. 27, Lake Hamilton, FL 33838 (863) 488-6508
Wild Wild West Arms has a large inventory of all types of firearms, a wide assortment of ammunition, accepts transfers and sells used firearms on consignment. Concealed carry, firearms training and hunter safety certification qualification classes will be taught on site in a large, comfortable classroom.
The GRAND OPENING will take place Saturday, September 17th.
The doors will open at 9:00 AM
It is going to be a party . . .
Deep discounts on firearms and other merchandise
Remote broadcasting by 2 local, popular radio stations
Smoke’n Oak will be providing fresh, hot, cooked BBQ and more
Always be alert for the occurrence of a squib load and the possibility of a barrel obstruction.
If you do not know what a SQUIB LOAD is and how to recognize it, it is strongly suggested you learn ASAP.
Technically defined, a squib load is an underpowered charge. That underpowered charge could result in a barrel obstruction.
A squib load is most notably recognized by an odd sound. While shooting, should you hear an odd sound, a sound different from the big bang, kaboom or crack, you normally hear or only heard when firing that last volley of shoots, CEASE FIRE immediately, following safe gun handling practices, inspect the gun for a barrel obstruction.
Firing another round, following a squib load, that resulted in a barrel obstruction, could result in the firearm blowing up in your hand and you loosing parts of your hand as a result.
Number 1 . . .
Number 2 . . .
The recalls above are the most recent (June 21, 2021) of two known ones. At the pace manufactures are turning out ammunition, in an attempt to catch up with backorders, quality control has diminished. Always be alert for the occurrence of a squib load and the possibility of a barrel obstruction. It can happen with any ammunition domestic or imported. Be vigilant, be alert, be safe.
Yesterday (June 24, 2021), a federal district court judge in the United States District Court Northern District of Florida upheld a Florida law that prevents law-abiding citizens between the ages of 18 and 20 from purchasing a firearm.
The judge explained that “for better or worse,” he was bound by the Eleventh Circuit’s Second Amendment precedent and had to rule the way that he did. But in doing so, he expressed dismay at the unfortunate balance that this decision will create. Under the existing Florida law, 18-20-year-olds can legally acquire a firearm with the assistance of parents or other relatives. This creates a situation where individuals who do not have family members to assist them are unable to exercise their Second Amendment rights at all. The judge highlighted this disparity by asking, “why should the 20-year-old single mother living on her own be unable to obtain a firearm for self-defense when a 20-year-old living with their parents can easily obtain one?”
The judge also questioned the “Second Amendment framework that finds certain persons or activities either protected or entirely unprotected,” and stated that “this Court sees no reason why the Second Amendment, unlike other fundamental rights, should be an all or nothing affair.” Additionally, the judge stated that if the court “were writing on a ‘blankish’ slate … it would subject the Act to a more searching inquiry.”
While this decision is a setback, NRA-ILA remains dedicated to protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens everywhere. NRA-ILA will examine this decision in the days to come and will decide the best method in which to pursue that goal.
The number of firearm sales checks represents the second-highest May on record, following only the massive firearm-buying surge experienced in May 2020.
Strong gun sales continued in May, with FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System data showing nearly 1.3 million background checks were conducted pursuant to firearms sales last month. Moreover, the FBI conducted a total of 3.2 million firearm-related background checks of all types – including checks for NICS exempt firearm permits that allow holders to purchase firearms without an additional background check for the next five years. The number of firearm sales checks represents the second-highest May on record, following only the massive firearm-buying surge experienced in May 2020.
Since the surge in gun-buying began at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, those in the firearms industry and even the reluctant news media have made two important observations: (1) The increase in gun purchasing included many first-time gun buyers; (2) Those purchasing firearms did not conform to stereotypes about the “typical” American gun owner
In February, firearm industry trade group the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) released data on the firearm sales increase based on a survey of Federal Firearm Licensees (gun dealers). A press release explained “NSSF estimates that 40 percent of those gun sales were for first-time gun buyers, totaling 8.4 million new gun owners in the United States in 2020.” The item went on to note, “Firearm ownership is also increasingly diverse as sales among women accounted for 40 percent of all sales, and purchases by African Americans increased by 56 percent compared to 2019.
In the early months of the pandemic, the legacy press was forced to cover the increase in gun sales and the diversity of those choosing to exercise their Second Amendment rights
In March 2020, the San Francisco Chronicle shared the story of Petaluma, Calif. gun shop owner Gabriel Vaughn, who told the paper “about 90% of his customers in recent days have been first-time gun buyers.” That same week, the New York Times reported that “Some dealers said an unusually high proportion of sales have been to first-time gun buyers.”
On May 29, the New York Times added to the growing understanding of America’s ongoing and diverse gun-buying surge by reporting on new data from a survey conducted by Northeastern University and the Harvard Injury Control Research Center. While the figures reported were not quite the same as those presented by NSSF, the information painted a picture of a growing and diverse group of gun owners.
Summarizing the findings, the Times explained,
about a fifth of all Americans who bought guns last year were first-time gun owners. And the data, which has not been previously released, showed that new owners were less likely than usual to be male and white. Half were women, a fifth were Black and a fifth were Hispanic.
Adding an anecdote, the New York Times noted,
Many gun store workers reported that last year set records for sales and also that they noticed different types of buyers walking in the door. Thomas Harris, a former law enforcement officer who works at the gun counter at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Roanoke, Va., said that around March last year, the customers he would speak with began to include more white-collar workers, such as people from insurance firms and software companies. He said many of the buyers were not conservative and most had never handled a gun.
With even the gun confiscation proponents at New York Times acknowledging the diverse face of gun ownership in America, anti-gun activists and politicians should take note. The ugly prejudices and stereotypes they share and employ to attack the gun community do not comport to reality and their bigoted campaign becomes more transparent all the time.
West Hartford, CT, February 12, 2021 – Colt Holding Company LLC (“Colt”) hereby announces that on February 11, 2021, it executed a definitive agreement to be acquired by CZG Group SE (“CZG” or “the Group”) Colt is the parent company of U.S. firearms manufacturer, Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC as well as its Canadian subsidiary, Colt Canada Corporation.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the definitive agreement, CZG shall acquire a 100% stake in Colt for upfront cash consideration of $220 million and the issuance of 1,098,620 shares of newly issued CZG common stock. The agreement also provides for potential earnout consideration of up to 1,098,620 shares of newly issued CZG common stock if defined EBITDA thresholds are achieved in years 2021 – 2023.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Lubomír Kovaík, President and Chairman of CZG, said:
“This merger is a strategic step for both companies. The acquisition of Colt, an iconic brand and a benchmark for the military, law enforcement and commercial markets globally, fits perfectly in our strategy to become the leader in the firearms manufacturing industry and a key partner for the armed forces. We are proud to include Colt, which has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. Army for over 175 years, in our portfolio. We believe in the successful connection of our corporate cultures, the proven track record of the current management team and the complementary nature of the CZ and Colt brands. The combined group will have revenues in excess of USD 500 million and presents a real small arms powerhouse. The experience of CZ and Colt management will further strengthen both brands and ensure CZ and Colt continue to deliver top quality products and solutions to all our customers.”
Dennis Veilleux, President and CEO of Colt, agreed: “We are very pleased with the prospect of such a strategic combination. Having completed a historic turn-around of the operations and financial performance at Colt over the past five years, this important next step with CZG positions the company to take advantage of significant growth opportunities. We are excited to join forces with CZG which will be a powerful combination for both brands and for our customers.”
The acquisition is to be financed from CZG’s existing cash resources, including recent IPO proceeds, and from a contemplated bond issuance by CZG.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval but is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2021.
With this strategic move, CZG will acquire significant production capacity in the United States and Canada and substantially expand its global customer base. Colt is a traditional supplier to global military and law enforcement customers. Among others, Colt is a long-term supplier to the U.S. Army (which relationship dates back over 175 years) and, through its Canadian subsidiary, Colt is a designated exclusive supplier of small arms to the Canadian military.
Polk County Commissioner John Hall wants to make the county a Second Amendment sanctuary, part of a nationwide movement against proposed restrictive gun laws.
BARTOW – The Polk County Commission will consider becoming a sanctuary county for gun rights under the Second Amendment.
The commission on Tuesday instructed County Attorney Michael Craig to research the relevant law and to present his findings at a future meeting. Craig told The Ledger after the meeting he expects to complete his research and present his findings to the commission at its Jan. 3 or Jan. 17 agenda review meeting.
Commissioner John Hall requested Craig look into a sanctuary measure because he feels Second Amendment rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution are threatened by recent efforts for tighter restrictions on gun possession and ownership. Those efforts appear to be gaining momentum recently after well publicized mass shootings in recent years.
“Every time a deranged person picks up a gun and kills people, those of us who are legal gun owners come under attack,” Hall told The Ledger after the meeting. “We should defend the rights of our citizens on all constitutional rights.”
Other commissioners agreed to have Craig research this issue with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Chairman Bill Braswell said he didn’t know whether such a sanctuary measure is necessary but agreed to have the commission look at Craig’s findings. Commissioners Martha Santiago and Rick Wilson agreed.
“I think of this as political theater,” Commissioner George Lindsey said. “This seems to be a solution looking for a problem.”
The Second Amendment sanctuary movement appears to have gained momentum as a backlash against the movement for more restrictive gun laws.
In Virginia, for example, more than 40 local governments passed such measures after control of its legislature passed from Republicans to Democrats last month, according to a Dec. 11 story in USA Today. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam has said he would support measures such as universal background checks for gun purchases, limits on the sale of certain types of firearms and a so-called “red flag” law allowing authorities to take guns from persons posing a danger to themselves or others, as determined by a court.
The various sanctuary measures adopted so far vary widely in scope and impact, according to internet research by The Ledger.
Some measures, such as a resolution passed by the Lake County Commission on Nov. 5, go no further than declaring the county a Second Amendment sanctuary and its support for those rights. The Ledger obtained a copy of that resolution.
Other measures go a step further and declare county officials will not cooperate with federal or state law enforcement authorities carrying out gun restrictions they consider unconstitutional.
That’s similar to the stance taken by some local governments over cooperating with federal officials enforcing immigration laws considered too harsh or illegal. That gave rise to the term “sanctuary city” or county.
Most Second Amendment sanctuary measures fall along these lines.
But a few, including some Virginia localities, declare their right to nullify any state or federal gun laws they consider unconstitutional, according to a Dec. 11 article on the news site Slate.com.
Hall told The Ledger he favored a nullification measure if the Legislature or Congress passed a gun law he considered unconstitutional.
He would not advocate nullifying a law found constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, Hall said.
“The Supreme Court will be the ultimate decider of the Constitution,” he said.
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said he was a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and advocates that citizens carry concealed weapons through the state’s licensing process.”
But he said he could not support a local law that instructed him to ignore state and federal gun laws.
“State and federal laws always supersede a county ordinance,” Judd told The Ledger. “What I would do as a law enforcement officer is enforce the laws of the state of Florida and the United States of America.”
Judd said he has reviewed dozens of Second Amendment sanctuary laws across the country and agreed they fall along the three categories outlined above.
Hall distinguished between Second Amendment and immigration sanctuary measures because the latter involved people breaking the law to enter and reside in the U.S., he said.
