An Appeals Court Just Struck Down Florida’s Open Carry Law; How Will That Impact Your Trip to Disney World?

Last week,  the Florida First District Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s open carry law violated the Constitution’s Second Amendment. Since the ruling, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has said that he will not appeal the court’s decision, meaning that Florida’s open carry law is no longer valid.

Florida’s open carry ban has been in effect since 1987, making it one of four states, including California, Connecticut, and Illinois, that ban people from carrying guns in public settings. However, Florida has left that list, leaving just the three remaining states.

With millions of tourists coming to Florida every year, they will now see people walking the streets of the state carrying firearms. However, a post from Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, raised the most eyebrows. Watts wrote, “In case you don’t die from polio, Florida man has you covered with his AR-15 at Disney.”

So, that raises the question: given that the Appeals Court has voided Florida’s open carry law, does this mean that guests will be able to carry guns at Walt Disney World?

Understanding Florida’s Open Carry Law

Under Florida law, guns are prohibited in certain areas. These include schools, government buildings, state parks, and meetings of government bodies. However, guns are also prohibited from private property.

Disney World’s website states, “Firearms, ammunition, knives, and weapons of any kind are prohibited.” While it is challenging to enter Disney World’s parks and Disney Springs with a weapon due to the security checks, it is not nearly as difficult to bring a firearm into a Disney World Resort hotel.

However, while guns are not allowed on Disney World property, guests do have to come to Disney through parts of Florida where open carry is now permissible. So, it is entirely possible that if you’re coming from out of state or out of the country, you will see someone walking down a street in Central Florida carrying a firearm.

While the court ruling is only a few days old, most police and sheriff departments in Florida have already stopped enforcing the law and will not issue arrest warrants for open carry. So, just be prepared next time you head to Disney World.

What do you think of Florida’s elimination of its open carry law? Let us know in the comments.