Florida Expedites 50K Concealed Carry Permits for Military

Acting on its pledge made following the attacks against military personnel in Chattanooga, TN, last year, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced this week it has expedited the issuance of more than 50,000 concealed-carry license applications for active military and veterans in The Sunshine State.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, whose agency is entrusted to issue Florida Concealed-Weapons Licenses (CWLs), made the announcement in a Sept. 27 press release.

“The men and women who serve and have served our country deserve all of the support we can provide,” Commissioner Putnam said. “I'm pleased that we have been able to expedite so many active military members and veterans’ applications for a concealed weapon license.”

In the days following the tragic July 16, 2015, shooting rampage by a lone gunman at a Chattanooga, Tenn. recruiting center that killed five U.S. military personnel, Florida Gov. Scott directed state National Guard Adjutant Gen. Michael Calhoun to work with local law-enforcement agencies to arrange regular security checks of armories and said the state would expedite processing of new Florida Concealed-Weapons Licenses (CWLs) for members of the Florida National Guard.

Commissioner Putnam’s office announced this week that active military personnel who want to apply for a Florida CWL should include a copy of their Common Access Card or other form of official military identification with their applications when they submit them 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. 

Interested veterans and military personnel may continue to apply for or renew a concealed weapons 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. 

Currently, more than 1.6 million Florida residents have state-issued Concealed Weapons Licenses.