New Federal Law Allows Firearms in Florida National Parks and Wildlife Reserves
As Miami firearms criminal defense attorneys, we’re pleased by the news that a new law will expand the areas where we can exercise our Second Amendment right to bear arms. On Feb. 22, CBS4 reported, a new federal law makes it legal to possess and carry a loaded firearm in a national park or national wildlife refuge. Previously, guns were permitted in parks only if they were not loaded and locked away in a difficult-to-reach place like a trunk. The bill was added to legislation that regulates the credit card industry, much of which also took effect Monday, allowing it to pass with bipartisan support.
The NRA hailed the new law as a victory for gun rights and gun owners, who may now defend themselves from attacking wildlife or other human beings in the parks. However, firearms experts and the media cautioned gun owners that the law doesn’t mean they can carry a loaded weapon into any park at any time for any reason. Most importantly, Florida state gun laws still apply within Florida’s national parks and wildlife refuges. Visitors to the Everglades, Biscayne, Big Cypress and Dry Tortugas must still have a permit for concealed carry, for example, and keep firearms away from unsupervised minors. The law doesn’t change hunting regulations, and park visitors must still comply with criminal laws that apply to shooting other human beings. And federal law still bans guns from rangers’ offices and visitors’ centers.
Our West Palm Beach gun crimes defense lawyers are delighted to see this victory for responsible gun owners take effect. The national parks may be officially unarmed -- even park rangers don’t usually carry guns -- but they are the site of a surprising amount of violence. In particular, the illicit drug industry uses national parks as a place to grow illegal drugs, and the “farmers” don’t hesitate to illegally carry guns to defend their crops. This has helped make national park rangers the most assaulted federal law enforcement officers for the past seven years. Similarly, wildlife poachers carry guns regardless of whether it’s legal, leaving law-abiding citizens without equalizing protection. And while animal attacks are rare, having a gun can make a difference between life and death when they do happen.
Law offices of Sebastian John Balliro, P.A. is proud to help Floridians and visitors stay on the right side of the law when it comes to weapons and firearms. Our Fort Lauderdale weapons crimes defense attorneys represent people involved in all kinds of firearms prosecutions, from simple possession charges to serious, violent crimes. We find that the anti-gun lobby has created laws criminalizing conduct that is not illegal in other jurisdictions, and frequently not even unsafe. We aggressively defend clients from any charges we believe aren’t justified by the facts or the law. Our attorneys also handle civil firearms matters involving the law, such as Florida CCW permit applications and high-volume firearms sales for collectors and dealers.
If you’re tangled up in restrictive firearms laws and you need legal help, don’t wait to call Balliro. We are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, so we can be available whenever legal trouble strikes. To set up a free consultation, call us toll-free from anywhere in Florida at 1-866-FIREARMS or contact us through the Internet.
