<P> Vehicle carry without a license when the weapon is not immediately accessible / available for use is permitted . </P> <P> Handguns must be either "securely encased" - F.S.S. 790.25 (3) (l) Some cite this as a grey area or risky - or not immediately available for use . "Securely encased" means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access . Carry of a Handgun on one's person inside a vehicle without a license is not permitted (except in the case of open carry in accordance with the law outlined above). Once a handgun is securely encased, it can be stored anywhere inside the vehicle and is not limited to just the glove compartment / center console . </P> <P> Long guns may be anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use . </P> <P> As of July 1, 2008, Florida became a "Take your gun to work" state (F.S. 790.251). This law prohibits most businesses from firing any employee for keeping a legal firearm locked in his or her vehicle in the company parking lot . The purpose of the new law is to allow citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights during their commutes to and from work . Exceptions listed in F.S. 790.251 (7) include school property, correctional institutions, nuclear power plants, national defense facilities, facilities for explosives or combustible materials, or a motor vehicle owned, rented, or leased by a person's employer . </P>

Is it legal to own a handgun at 18 in florida