Welcome to

The state is responding to criticism after an audit found that people with criminal records were allowed to carry concealed weapons or did not have their permits revoked in a timely fashion.  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says it is confident that any loopholes in the system are now closed.

“We don’t believe there are people with concealed weapons permits who shouldn’t have them,” said Terry McElroy, with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  “We’re really not aware of any.  You know, you read stories in the paper, or TV, about people who ought not to be having handguns, people with criminal records.  Those people don’t have concealed weapons permits.  The people who have concealed weapons permits are very diligently vetted by Florida Department of Law Enforcement.”

Each week, the state agency receives a list of everyone arrested in Florida to match against its list of about 462,000 concealed weapons license holders. Anyone appearing on both lists is referred within 20 days for possible loss of the license.