TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Tallahassee is confronting a new reality: Open carrying a pistol or even a rifle is now legal in many public spaces.<\/p>\n
Open carry is now legal inside our libraries, parks and even most areas of City Hall.<\/p>\n
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell confirmed the details of the new law. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo technically, speaking, even though they can\u2019t come in those doors right there, they can sit out there in the lobby until we\u2019re done or on recess and walk out,\u201d Mayor Dailey asked in a recent meeting. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Chief Revell answered.<\/p>\n
Revell said it\u2019s likely folks will try to push the envelope of what\u2019s allowed.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, a spokesperson for FAMU PD said they were asked to look for a \u201csecond amendment auditor\u201d who may have been spotted while walking with a rifle in the College Town area.<\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things about open carry that people need to understand is that we don\u2019t have the authority to just go up anymore and stop somebody because they have a gun on them,\u201d Revell said. \u201cAnd that makes it much more difficult, much more unsafe for our officers.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Tuesday night\u2019s commission meeting, there was a bit of a gasp when the county attorney announced open carry was now legal inside Tallahassee area libraries. <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, they\u2019re worried and concerned and, yes, library staff is one of the groups that we met with and we had to break it to them,\u201d County Attorney Chastity O\u2019Steen said. \u201cYes, it is now legal to open carry in a library.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the new rules have sparked alarm at City Hall and the county courthouse. A status report laying out options for local governments will be brought back at a later date.<\/p>\n
On the county side, Leon County employees are still prohibited from carrying while on duty. On Tuesday, they voted to explore options to beef up security in light of the new rules.<\/p>\n
The new law isn\u2019t from the legislature but rather from an appeals court that found open carry restrictions violated the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n Revell said he hopes the legislature will put on further guardrails and update language to also restrict long guns the same as hand guns. <\/p>\n Private businesses can decide for themselves whether or not to allow open carry. Publix, for example, is allowing it. <\/a><\/p>\n Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor floated the idea of the county engaging in a \u201cmedia campaign\u201d to let folks know about the latest updates, but the county attorney said she represented the commission itself and there are many variables to when open carry is or is not allowed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing that hinders your staff, our staff, to figure out the clear measures of which we can say in Leon County, this is not open, we need to do something in that regard and not let silence be our best response,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The county commission will hear a status report from the county attorney, possibly at its meeting in November, which may lay out options for additional security at county sites.<\/p>\n At city hall, Chief Revell said the mayor would adjourn the meeting if someone brought a gun into the chambers.<\/p>\n Under a loophole in the law, a rifle or long gun could currently be brought into the meeting itself.<\/p>\n But, many at city hall and at the county courthouse hope lawmakers across the street will close the loopholes and issue more uniform guidance.<\/p>\n The county attorney said there are a list of \u201csensitive places\u201d where open carry is still restricted.<\/p>\n \u201cJails, prisons, detention facilities or other professional athletic events not related to firearms is another one,\u201d the county attorney said. \u201cSchools have their own special exemptions.\u201d<\/p>\n Commissioner Christian Caban asked about Gene Cox Stadium, a county owned facility used by the school district for high school football and other marquee events.<\/p>\n \u201cI guarantee you 100% you cannot have (a gun there),\u201d said Chair Brian Welch.<\/p>\n Commissioner David O\u2019Keefe said employees should have the right to a safe workplace.<\/p>\n The county attorney said they\u2019re prohibited from having a gun on county while on duty because the county, as their employer, can restrict that.<\/p>\n \u201c(Please) bring back information for options for increasing security for our public facilities, whether it\u2019s deputies or other armed security, so that we ensure do everything we can to ensure the safety of our employees and our other patrons,\u201d O\u2019Keefe said. <\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n