Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 270
       
       
        
       By Senator Berman
       
       
       
       
       
       26-00594-24                                            2024270__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to discharging a firearm in
    3         residential areas; amending s. 790.15, F.S.; revising
    4         prohibitions on the discharge of a firearm in
    5         residential areas; providing criminal penalties;
    6         removing exceptions; providing an effective date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Subsection (4) of section 790.15, Florida
   11  Statutes, is amended to read:
   12         790.15 Discharging firearm in public or on residential
   13  property.—
   14         (4)(a) Any person who recreationally discharges a firearm
   15  outdoors, including target shooting, in an area that the person
   16  knows or reasonably should know:
   17         1. Is primarily residential in nature; or and that has a
   18  residential density of one or more dwelling units per acre,
   19         2. Has a residential density of 1.25 or more acres per
   20  dwelling unit, and the firearm discharge by the person does not
   21  remain within the boundaries of the property in which the
   22  discharge takes place,
   23  
   24  commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as
   25  provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
   26         (b) This subsection does not apply:
   27         (a) to a person lawfully defending life or property or
   28  performing official duties requiring the discharge of a firearm;
   29         (b) If, under the circumstances, the discharge does not
   30  pose a reasonably foreseeable risk to life, safety, or property;
   31  or
   32         (c) To a person who accidentally discharges a firearm.
   33         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2024.