Felons and Firearms in Florida

Florida has some of the strictest punishments for firearm possessions for felons. Simply having a gun on your person after a felony conviction can lead to lengthy jail time, according to Florida Statute 790.23, which states that it’s a crime for a felon to carry a firearm either constructively or actually. Sadly, society assumes that felons only need guns to commit crimes not as a matter of civil rights. In Florida, many convicted felons live in high-crime neighborhoods or communities and may need a firearm to protect themselves.

In order for a felon to restore their civil rights, they used to have to apply for clemency. Clemency rules used to be extremely strict, but have become more relaxed under Governor Ron DeSantis. According to new rules, felons who complete their sentences can apply for clemency as long as their fines are paid, changing the previous administrations rules that required felons to apply for clemency least five years since their conviction.