Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is backing a measure that would require her agency to retain fingerprints of applicants seeking concealed-weapon licenses.
Having a log of the fingerprints would allow her agency’s Concealed Weapon Licensing Program to “immediately access criminal history information on applicants who have committed crimes in other states,” Fried said in a press release Wednesday. Under current law, “a dangerous loophole exists which could allow individuals who have committed felonies in other states to slip through the cracks,” Fried said in the statement. “Fingerprint retention will help solve this problem and keep guns away from people who shouldn’t have them.”
The proposal (HB 809), filed by Democratic state Rep. Javier Fernandez of Miami, would shorten the concealed-weapon license renewal period from seven to five years, the maximum length for which the federal government will allow fingerprint retention, according to the release. And the bill, filed for consideration during the legislative session which begins Jan. 14, also would require people who want to renew concealed weapon licenses to submit proof of having completed firearms training or a safety course.
The training would have to take place 6 months immediately before the expiration date of the license, and must be conducted by a state, county or municipal law enforcement agency or a nationally recognized organization “that promotes gun safety.” Current law requires training prior to the issuance of a concealed weapons permit but not before a license is renewed.
The proposal would also reduce the renewal fee for concealed-weapon licenses from $45 to $40. “These program enhancements will allow us to build on our accountability and public safety initiatives, while ensuring the program functions efficiently,” Fried, whose office oversees the state’s concealed-weapon program, said in the release.
–News Service of Florida
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hawkeye says
why havent they been keeping these fingerprints all along? If I recall correctly (originally got CCW in 1989, ), I had to pay a fee to get fingerprinted and was made to believe that my fingerprints would be stored forever. This HB 809 filed by Rep Fernandez, just stinks of another way to get more money out of us. Also having to have more training within 6 months of renewing your permit is another way that someone is taking more of our money. The training I took in 1989 should be acceptable for renewing my license for the rest of my life, never mind the fact that I shoot a handgun every saturday ,to retain my proficiency.Again , this seems like another way to screw us out of money, and maybe this fernandez is following some other states lead, and hoping that by making the process of having a CCW a pain in the ass, that some people will either not get a CCW or not renew the one they already have.
OldMan says
No to both changes, it’s only about money.
Concealed Carry licensees are not part of the violence problem in Florida.
Shortening the license period is all about collecting more fees !
Stick those rediculous ideas back in your pea brain.
Trailer Bob says
Ok great! So now I have to try and remember that name of the person who provided me with my hands on training years ago, and also find a piece of paper proving that I had that training, even though I already did that???
How about this…just send me a bill and I will pay it.
Like another has stated…I shoot about three times a week and nothing else has changed with the info the state should already have on me.
Did we vote on this change? Shouldn’t we have to?
This state is getting more and more like the north. Maybe those who move here from the north should be barred from making laws until they have lived here for 30 years.
Doug Ahole says
The whole ordeal is bull(stuff). I went to get my CWP in flagler and the SNOT of a woman at the desk told me it would be 12 to 14 weeks to get me processed. I’ve completed the concealed weapons class, did 4 years active duty in the army, zero criminal background, etc. I suspect that no one in that office is more qualified than I, yet they have the ability to decide whether I’m good enough to carry a self defense weapon. Put a woman in charge and they’ll soon be deciding who gets help and who gets f***ed over.
Randy Jones says
Hey Mr. Ahole – the “clerk” you are belittling is just that – a clerk. Ever heard the saying, “an armed society is a polite society”? Had you lived here 10 years ago you would be driving to Jacksonville to to obtain/renew a CWP. Lighten up.