Starting Friday (Sept. 25), Florida’s new open carry law goes into effect, allowing residents to openly carry not just handguns but shotguns, rifles and other legally owned firearms in public. The law stops short of overriding the rights of private property owners and businesses, who can still restrict firearms on their premises. Schools, police stations, courthouses and other designated “gun-free zones” remain exempt.

Local police and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce are advising business owners who wish to restrict firearms to post signage at all entrances. Signs and window stickers are available through the Chamber office. “Visitors are going to see things they may not have seen in the past,” said Chris Steinocher, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber has already posted signs on its own doors. “It’s a shocking sticker to see in the window,” Steinocher added. And many other businesses have followed suit. “As long as everyone understands the rules. When people believe they have different rights, that’s when problems happen.

The stickers have become a point of contention, though, as Steinocher has received pushback from gun advocates, who argue that giving out “no guns” stickers is tantamount to Second Amendment infringement. In response, Steinocher emphasized that distributing “no guns” stickers is not an anti-Second Amendment stance but a way to give business owners options, ensuring commerce continues smoothly. “We need cash registers at local businesses ringing at all times,” he said.

When asked how the new open carry law might affect local business and tourism, Steinocher mused: “I’m not sure there will be any negative impacts [on tourism or safety] – it’s just going to be different. We’re just trying to alert everyone about the new rules – it’s not the end of the world.”

While the law broadens previous concealed carry laws, several restrictions remain the same. Concealed carry laws prohibiting firearms in establishments where alcohol sales account for more than 51% still apply. “You can sit in a restaurant, but not at the bar,” Steinocher noted. Violations remain a felony. “Every restaurant should check with the police [if they’re unsure].”

Business owners, stressed St. Petersburg Police Chief Tony Holloway, retain the right to ask armed individuals to leave – regardless of signage. “Everyone has the right to carry a weapon, but they don’t have a right to carry it on your property,” Holloway said in a public notice on Sept. 24.

If someone refuses to leave, he added, they can be trespassed. Armed trespass is classified as a third-degree felony. “Call the police immediately so they can handle the situation.”

Both Holloway and Steinocher acknowledged that open carry will likely be contentious, drawing comparisons to face-mask policies during the pandemic. “There’s going to be some hard conversations this month,” Steinocher said. Ultimately, the tenor of those conversations is up to private businesses and property owners.