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Hernando Today

Florida Cops Free To Carry Guns Nationwide

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By KYLE MARTIN

Published: May 31, 2008

Imagine a Florida detective who has to question a witness out of state, but he's forced to travel unarmed because his concealed weapons permit isn't honored in that state.

Or picture a retired cop who risks arrest on a cross country road trip because some of the states along the way don't recognize his gun permit.

A new measure adopted in March provides a way around those situations.

Technically, Florida's sworn law enforcement were afforded that right by a federal law put in place four years ago. H.R. 218, the Law Enforcement Safety Act, allowed officers who meet a certain shooting standard to carry a gun past their state borders.

But up until July 2006, Florida had no statewide regulation for law enforcement officers. Florida officers were limited to the same privileges as the 640,234 other concealed weapons permit holders.

Only 34 states have a reciprocal agreement with Florida that lets their permit holders come to the Sunshine State with a hidden weapon and vice versa.

But when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement set a standard, qualifying officers could supersede their concealed weapons permit and earn a national pass. But that still left retired officers without a way to qualify.

That changed on March 3 when the Florida Cabinet officially approved the final rules approved by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (FCJST).

In that time, at least 25 retired cops in the area have taken advantage of the new permit, said Jim Peretto, a director of the local 10-13 club of retired New York City cops.

"You have to protect yourself and other people, that's the main reason for (the permit)," he said.

There are some caveats. Active officers have to qualify every two years, but the H.R. 218 permit requires a renewal every year. A concealed weapons permit is good for five years.

The permit can only be issued by an FCJST-certified trainer as well, which widely rules out the class offered by the local gun shop. The retired cop must have been on the force at least 15 years and be in good standing with his former agency.

Advocates laud the new permits as a way to keep the streets safer. A Palm Beach county commissioner urged ex-cops to recertify with their guns following a shooting rampage at a Wendy's restaurant in March.

Although the bill was a bipartisan success in 2004, there were a few detractors. They questioned who would be liable if an out-of state cop shot someone in a different jurisdiction. Another argument was that the bill went against a state's sovereignty.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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