NOTE: This information is not provided as legal advice. Always consult a lawyer and seek legal guidance.
Florida Statutes Title XLVI. Crimes § 790.001. Definitions
(3)(a) “Concealed weapon” means any dirk, metallic knuckles, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the weapon from the ordinary sight of another person.
(13) “Weapon” means any dirk, knife, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon except a firearm or a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife.
Florida Statutes Title XLVI. Crimes § 790.01. Unlicensed carrying of concealed weapons or concealed firearms
(1) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person who is not licensed under s. 790.06 and who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083 .
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person who is not licensed under s. 790.06 and who carries a concealed firearm on or about his or her person commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 , s. 775.083 , or s. 775.084 .
(3) This section does not apply to:
(a) A person who carries a concealed weapon, or a person who may lawfully possess a firearm and who carries a concealed firearm, on or about his or her person while in the act of evacuating during a mandatory evacuation order issued during a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to chapter 252 or declared by a local authority pursuant to chapter 870. As used in this subsection, the term “in the act of evacuating” means the immediate and urgent movement of a person away from the evacuation zone within 48 hours after a mandatory evacuation is ordered. The 48 hours may be extended by an order issued by the Governor.
(b) A person who carries for purposes of lawful self-defense, in a concealed manner:
1. A self-defense chemical spray.
2. A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.
Summary:
In Florida, the term “concealed weapon” refers to deadly weapons like dirk, metallic knuckles, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device that is carried by a person in a way that is hidden from the sight of another person.
The term “weapon,” on the other hand, refers to items that are the same as in the “concealed weapon” except otherwise stated.
However, this section does not apply to anyone who lawfully carries a concealed firearm or a concealed weapon while in the act of evacuating, or a person who carries them for the purposes of lawful self-defense.