I strongly support "stand your ground." The media and a number of African American activists paint George Zimmermann as a racist who hunted down Treyvon Martin. Perhaps one should take a closer look of the murder rate of black males on black males, which stands at 93.1%. This is very sad and tragic and should be dealt with but it is not. It almost bears the concept that it's acceptable if one black murders another black, but if a white man does it ( one who was protecting himself) it's a hate crime.

I have a concealed weapons permit. It's not just handed out to anyone that applies. If you don't have a clean record or a DUI in the last 3 years, then you won't get one. One thing you learn right away, it's for concealed carry. If you flash it in public or even hint that you have one, you will lose it real quick and may even go to jail. It's for self protection and others. You also need gun training beforehand as well. Flashing it around while intoxicated will definitely get you jail time and loss of license.

The drunk who stuck a gun in your face is exactly the type of criminal who would NEVER apply for a carry permit nor any gun licensing, hence the problem with licensing/registering all guns. Criminals and psychos will ALWAYS get guns.

The people who have CCW permit are the ones who have been checked for criminal background and drunkenness at the level you mentioned. CCW licensed carriers are not the ones not to fear.

Here are disqualifications for a license in the FL application:

"QUESTION 7
If you have been convicted of a felony as described in section 790.23, Florida Statutes, and the felony conviction occurred within the State of Florida, your civil rights and firearm rights must be restored by the Florida Office of Executive Clemency in order to qualify you for a Florida concealed weapon license. Felony convictions occurring in another state require restoration of civil and firearm rights by the state in which the conviction occurred. If you were convicted of a felony under federal law, you must have a presidential pardon or have been granted relief from federal firearm disabilities through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). If your civil rights and firearms rights have not been restored as described above, or if you cannot provide proof of restoration of civil rights and firearms rights, you are not eligible for a Concealed Weapon or Firearm License.

QUESTION 8
If you have had ADJUDICATION OF GUILT WITHHELD OR IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE SUSPENDED ON ANY FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, you are NOT ELIGIBLE for a Florida concealed weapon license unless a period of three years has elapsed since probation or any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled (or the record has been sealed and expunged). If you answer YES to this question, you must submit a copy of the document issued by the court or probation office evidencing completion of probation or other court-imposed conditions. Alternatively, you can submit a copy of the court document ordering that the record be sealed and expunged.

QUESTION 9
If you have been FOUND GUILTY OF, HAD ADJUDICATION OF GUILT WITHHELD FOR, OR HAD IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE SUSPENDED FOR ONE OR MORE MISDEMEANOR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, you are NOT ELIGIBLE for a Florida concealed weapon license unless a period of three years has elapsed since probation or any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled (or the record has been sealed and expunged). If you answer YES to this question, you must submit a copy of the document issued by the court or probation office evidencing completion of probation or other court-imposed conditions. Alternatively, you can submit a copy of the court document ordering that the record be sealed and expunged.

QUESTION 10
If you have been CONVICTED OR FOUND GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, you are NOT ELIGIBLE for a Florida concealed weapon license. Owning or possessing a firearm by one who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is also punishable under federal law §18 USC 922.

A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence includes any misdemeanor conviction or suspended sentence involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim. Examples include, but are not limited to, spouse abuse, battery/domestic violence, child abuse, assault, etc. A person shall not be considered to have been convicted if the conviction or suspended sentence has been expunged or set aside, or is an offense for which the person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored (if the law of the convicting state provides for the loss of civil rights upon conviction of such an offense) unless the pardon, expunction, or restoration of civil rights expressly provides that the person may not possess or receive firearms.

QUESTION 11
If you have been issued an injunction that is currently in force and effect that restrains you from committing acts of domestic violence or acts of repeat violence, you are NOT ELIGIBLE for a Florida concealed weapon license. The Division will suspend the processing of your application until you submit certified court documents showing that the injunction has been dissolved or dismissed.

QUESTION 12
You are NOT ELIGIBLE for a Florida concealed weapon license if any of the following conditions applies to you: (1) you have been adjudicated incapacitated under section 744.331, FS, or similar laws of any other state; (2) you have been committed to a mental institution in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 394, FS, or similar laws of any other state; (3) you have been adjudicated mentally defective or incompetent in any court. Your eligibility for licensure would be restored only if you had received relief from federal firearms disabilities through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

QUESTION 13
You are NOT ELIGIBLE for a Florida concealed weapon license if you answer YES to any one of these questions pertaining to committal for controlled substance abuse, committal for alcohol abuse, or DUI conviction DURING THE THREE YEARS PRECEDING THE DATE ON WHICH YOU SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION.

QUESTION 14
You are NOT ELIGIBLE for licensure if you are UNDER ARREST OR CURRENTLY CHARGED with any felony, or crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; or any crime of violence, including crimes of domestic violence; or any crime under the provisions of Chapter 893, Florida Statutes, or similar laws of any other state relating to controlled substances. If you choose to submit an application anyway, the Division will suspend the processing of your application until you provide a certified court document indicating the final disposition of your case. If that court document indicates that the case did not result in a conviction or a withholding of adjudication on a disqualifying crime, the suspension will be lifted and the processing of your application will continue. If you are convicted or receive a withhold of adjudication on a disqualifying crime, your application will be denied.

QUESTION 15
The term “fugitive from justice” means any person who has fled from any State to avoid prosecution for a crime or to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding. If you answer YES to this question or if the background check reveals that you are a fugitive from justice, the Division will suspend the processing of your application until you submit a certified copy of a court document reflecting the final disposition of your case.

QUESTION 16
You are NOT ELIGIBLE for a Florida concealed weapon license if you were discharged from military service under DISHONORABLE CONDITIONS.

http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/app...structions.pdf

And 86% of whites are killed by other whites.

If you fail all the questions,you still can obtain a drivers licence in this state.You have a greater chance of meeting a drunk driver,than a concealed carry drunkard .

I have CCW in 4 states, NY, PA, NH, FL. The one in NY is no longer valid because I left that draconian state for a life in FL. Now that I am a FL resident my CCW is valid in 32 states. I have been checked out by the FBI so many times in order to get these permits. Now, that being said I believe the Second Amendment is MY CCW. What part of shall not be infringed don't people understand. I do agree there has to be some oversight by background checks but guess what - criminals and people who have bad intensions don't get CCW they just buy them illegally or steal them. The most law abiding people are the CCW holders. Just ask the FBI that checked them out. The only thing that happens when you infringe on lawful people is make them targets. Stand your ground is a sound law and should be the law of the land. Rant over.

I am a bit confused by this post.

Do not question your numbers, but trying very hard to figure out the point of WHY it is relative.

The national outcry is how white people are killing blacks, thus what is the point you are trying to make here ?

Look at the evening news. If I lived in Sanford, I would carry a gun. Tired of all this crap. Jesse and Al will reap more bucks.

Its easier to get a drivers licence,than a concealed carry permit .And the chances are greater for you to meet a drunk driver, than a drunken concealed carry permit holder

Thanks for the info makes me feel better. The media was making it sound like every tom dick and harry had a gun.

Stats
 

My point was the African American community should look closer to this statistic. Another stat is that the murder rate by blacks is 14.82 per 100 as compared to whites which is 2.17 per 100. The issue isn't gun control it's self control.

I watched Jay Leno two nights ago interview Savannah Guthrie about the Zimmerman case. He obviously didn't know what 'neighborhood watch' was or a concealed weapons permit. From his questions I got the immediate impression he thought GZ was a hired security guard and was given a gun as part of his job. He couldn't comprehend that citizens will go out and patrol their neighborhood on their own free time. Another question was, why do they give these guys real guns. Again, he had no clue that GZ was legally carrying a concealed weapon that he owned. I got so annoyed by his ignorance I turned the show off.

And here is the problem. The media makes it sound like all KINDS of things....stereotyping as "racist" everybody who sees in the Zimmerman trial that there was reasonable doubt.

I am sure in Leno's area of Beverly Hills that there are no neighborhood watch programs and all the security is through private companies. Beverly Hills is different from most of the county just as The Villages is different from the less desirable places in Baltimore.

Is "The Block" still around?

Yes, concealed carry permits do have restrictions such as not carrying when in a bar or the bar part of a restaurant. If a person is a veteran and has a discharge above "dishonorable", he/she can get a concealed carry permit in Florida just by presenting your DD214 plus the fee (around $85, I believe). Of course, they have to meet other criteria regarding criminal and mental compliance. No safety course or shooting qualification is required of a veteran.

I do remember seeing in the Daily Sun a couple of different articles in the past 3 years about a couple of people who were charged with assault with a deadly weapon for flashing their pistol when in a arguments over parking spaces to intimidate the other person.

Carrying a pistol has responsibility and most use it wisely.

Interesting statistic - thank you for posting.