Apartment Complex - Tampa, Florida claims I have to have a gun permit to own a gun?

[PILMAN]

I am visiting my girlfriend down in Tampa and she has a place at park at stonebrook ( http://www.theparkatstonebrook.com/ ), I was going to bring my firearms as she wanted to learn how to shoot.

Basically they claim per their conditions that you can only have a firearm on the property if you have a "permit", I talked to someone on the phone who claimed you must have a permit and I said "I'm confused, Florida doesn't have a permit system, do you mean a permit through you guys or through the actual state?" and she said "A firearms license" and I said "there is no licensing system in Florida" and she stated "well those are the rules sir, sorry".

She claimed this is what the manager had told her and someone had called earlier about this, is there some sort of city code in Tampa I am unaware of that requires a permit system? Florida has no state level licensing or permit system to own a firearm except for carry conceal purposes. Need some assistance with this.

 

[Blackbeard]

Maybe show them proof of citizenship. That's all the permit you require

 

[Lightninstrike]

My guess is that she's clueless. Doesn't know the law, doesn't care and probably regurgitating something she was told off hand. After all, everyone know you have to have a permit to have a gun, right?

 

[Zoogster]

That is the problem with a permit system (concealed carry permit.)
Eventualy it can expand to become the new requirement for many things that previously did not require a permit at all. Both legaly and in public opinion including LEO.


Legaly no permit is required. You could simply bring the firearms. You chose to ask them confusing the issue.
They know permits exist, and the media always mentions licenses and registration even in FL where it does not exist.
I have seen several Florida news stories that mention someone who was involved in self defense had a gun that was properly registered (implying that made it legal.)
The media perpetuates the misinformation.
(They probably have an angle in wanting to actualy make that a requirement, and if enough people are told it regularly they will be shocked to learn it is not necessary.)


You need no permission to take your firearms to apartments. To avoid problems with the ignorant you may wish to keep a low profile taking them from the vehicle to the apartment. Otherwise you may not only have to spend some time discussing the situation with the police, but bring unwanted attention to your girlfriend who still will be living there.

 

[Zundfolge]

Here, print this out and highlight the line that begins "Article of the Fourth".

THERE's your "permit".

 

[fireman 9731]

In the Spirit of Ted Nugent, tell her that the 2nd amendment of the United States of America is your gun permit.

 

[kurtmax]

I wouldn't worry about it. An apartment complex isn't going to evict you for something like having firearms that violates your lease agreement as long as you pay your rent and such.

IIRC, it's very difficult and time-consuming to evict somebody in FL anyways, so they'd probably just let it drop.

 

[lesterg3]

Only my humble opinion, but as long as you meet all Florida State requirements, I do not think they can do anything about it.

One thing that does comes to mind is the posting of "No Guns", in SC the laws are very precise about the size and location of the signs, are there any posted at the driveway to the complex? Check out Florida law about the signs.

On the other hand what they don't know----, and if it's locked in your trunk, and so on and so on.

 

[Trebor]

Are you going to be living there? Are you going to be on the lease? Are you going to sign the lease?

Basically, why did you call and ask?

The only restrictions they can enforce that have any teeth are those restrictions they put in writing in the lease. Look at your girlfriend's lease and see what it says about firearms on the property. If you are with your girlfriend you are her guest and if her lease does not prohibit firearms I don't see how the management company can prohibit you from possessing them.

Of course, I'm not a lawyer and this is not legal advice, yadda, yadda, yadda.

 

[cbrgator]

The manager simply doesn't know there isn't a permit system and probably just assumes there is. I'd venture to guess he didn't grow up in FL.

 

[si vis pacem]

You could always launch a volley of legalese.

 

[Gamera]

One thing that does comes to mind is the posting of "No Guns", in SC the laws are very precise about the size and location of the signs,

Yeah funny thing that, we only have to abide by "properly posted" signs. So if a sign is half an inch too wide, or the letters aren't the right size it's technically not "properly posted". I don't feel like testing all that out in court though.

In regards to your gf's apartment, just take your guns. As long as you don't go running around with them, I see no reason why the administration would even know you have them there.

 

[Ed Ames]

How on earth did this ever come up in the first place?????

I just can't imagine... were you wearing a Glock hat while lurking by the manager's car or something? It just seems so unlikely.

And, unless it is in your GF's lease, it's also just them funning with you. They are probably laughing at the guy/girl who actually asked them whether a tenant could have a gun in his/her own home.

 

[divemedic]

Signs in Florida carry no legal weight.

 

[AKElroy]

Why did you even ask? It would not have occured to me to even check on this if I were going to a private residence. And even if it had occured to me, I would still have carried without asking.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Basically they claim per their conditions that you can only have a firearm on the property if you have a "permit"

Tell your girlfriend to look at her lease. If there's nothing about gun permits in the lease she signed, tell the complex manager to get bent. Even if there is something in there about gun permits, just keep the guns out of sight. They'll never find out and even if they do, it's extremely unlikely they'll decide to make an issue of it if she's an otherwise good tenant and always pays her rent on time. After all, the economy is in the toilet and probably half the complex is in arrears right now.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

No damage shall be on the property when lease is ternimated or the deposit fee shall be forfieted.

That was I recall from my lease.

Now I wonder what they will do if they found a bullet in one of the walls? =)

Been over 10 years aint heard a peep. LOL.

 

[Blackbeard]

My guess is that the property is owned by some corporation that is based in a state with permits, and they copied their lease/rules/covenants to their properties in other states.

 

[Stirling XD]

My guess is that the property is owned by some corporation that is based in a state with permits, and they copied their lease/rules/covenants to their properties in other states.

I'm guessing the above statement is probably the case. But if you want to have a little fun...

Get on your computer and create a permit. Print something like Firearms Permit on the top followed by your name and address. You might even put your picture on it and sign it at the bottom. Don't name any government agencies on it. That might raise some fraud or forgery issues. Print it, laminate it and stick it in your wallet. If anyone asks, present that to them. If they have no idea how or where to obtain the permit they mention in the lease, chances are they don't know what a real or fake one looks like. Then put the burden of proof on them to prove it's fake.

 

[dudester]

Very bad advice.

There is a permit in FL for concealed carry but I doubt that is what they are asking for and it doesn't matter anyway. As long as you are not openly carrying you should be ok. Personally I don't understand why you even called. Now that you have done that you have opened the door to scrutiny.

 

[dogrunner]

dollar to a doughnut that manager is FROM NY or NJ!...............


You know, they didn't do it that way "back north".

 

[Knotthead]

If they asked, I would tell them that I had all the required permits for ownership and possession in the state of Florida. If they ask to see them, inform them that state law does not require you to carry such documentation with the firearm.

 

[JimJD]

dogrunner: dollar to a doughnut that manager is FROM NY or NJ!...............


You know, they didn't do it that way "back north".

Heyyyyy! Not all of us are like that!
I'm happy I moved to the gunshine state.

Signs in Florida carry no legal weight.

Really? I thought in certain cases and places they do.
I'm not talking about bars, or a car. Places of known trouble, fed. and gov. buildings, etc.

 

[solareclipse]

Tell them to call the cops if they care that much about it. Proceed to laugh when the cops come.

Look for a new place.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Need some assistance with this.

You're allowed to ignore morons and the ignorant.