There is a movement to allow open carry in Florida but I would guess it will face a hard battle before it ever passes as seeing Floridians openly carrying heat might scare off some tourists from Europe and some liberal states such as New York or Illinois. Paranoia is not uncommon among those who have had little exposure to the gun culture that exists in the Sunshine State.
I should point out that despite the fact that Florida leads the nation in the number of people with carry permits, gun crime is at an all time low.
Florida firearm violence hits record low; concealed gun permits up
Debate continues over relationship between guns and crime
By JACOB CARPENTER
Posted January 6, 2013 at 5:15 a.m.
In the so-called Gunshine State, home to the most gun permits in the country, firearm violence has fallen to the lowest point on record.
As state and national legislators consider gun control laws in the wake of last month's Connecticut school shooting, Florida finds itself in a gun violence depression. The Firearm-involved violent crime rate has dropped 33 percent between 2007 and 2011, while the number of issued concealed weapons permits rose nearly 90 percent during that time, state records show.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/jan/06/fla-firearm-violence-hits-record-low/
I am not saying that more guns = less crime as there are far too many factors in the crime equation to draw such a simplistic conclusion. Still it would seem that if allowing people to legally carry firearms was a terrible idea, the gun crime rate would have increased not decreased when more concealed weapons permits were issued.
I've found that most Floridians who do carry on a regular basis usually carry light, compact handguns. The warm climate in Florida makes even wearing a light jacket during most months unusual and it's hard to conceal a large handgun under light clothing.
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