When I first started "Florida Firearms" almost 25 years ago – there was virtually nothing out there that explained Florida or Federal firearm laws, zero on weapons, and a maybe just a little bit on Florida self defense. "Florida Firearms" changed all that – forever – and provided the first reliable source where instructors and law enforcement could go for an actual answer how all these laws worked, and what the "right" answers were. Sure, there were lots of books on the practical side of self defense – most of them very good. But, that didn't keep you out of legal trouble. It didn't tell you about "mandatory" prison sentences. It didn't explain all the nuances of legal carry, purchase restrictions, school zones, NFA issues, or all those other grey areas that nobody really had an answer for. And, over the years – the book became a staple of those who really wanted to know how the law worked – and what they needed to be aware of.
Of course . . . there was resistance. I remember such statements as "who are you to tell me what the laws are?"
Well . . . I was a former prosecutor and police legal advisor who had tried several homicide cases, handled hundreds of appeals including ones in the U.S. Supreme Court, served as a chairman of Florida Bar committees, and had been writing featured monthly columns regarding firearm issues in such publications as Florida Rod & Gun Trader, The Sportman's Gazette, Rods & Guns Magazine, and wrote for law enforcement. I had also taken the time to become certified by the NRA as a firearms instructor, and Refuse to be a Victim instructor, and was one of the four primary organizers of the Florida "Freedom Rally" in Tallahassee in 1994 that was crucial to stopping a Florida assault weapons bill, and was the second largest rally ever held on the Capital steps up to that point.
As I got deeper into firearm issues, my practice also took on more and more of those cases. I handled and successfully tried a number of second degree murder self defense cases, quite a few aggravated assault cases, and every type of case you can think of regarding concealed carry issues – from vehicles, boats, airports, seaports, hotels, hospitals, schools, military institutions – you name it – I handled it. Plus, I was one of a very few attorneys who had extensive experience with BATFE, and also regulatory matters with the Florida Department of Agriculture. I even did a few cases involving knives, some on ammunition, a couple on machine guns, several involving antique firearms, and around five federal NICS database corrections when the feds either got my client mixed up with somebody else, or the computer data was just wrong.
What I'm saying is that – not only was I writing the book – I was "living" the book. And in between, I was answering tons of email questions on situations the book didn't cover – questions that were then researched, and eventually found their way into the book. Which is one of the reasons why, after almost twenty four years – I continue to answer legal questions from my website – for free.
Likewise, my book is the only one on the market that is updated free on the web (at least twice yearly), and is the only one that I know of that is updated in print at least once a year, so that the latest information is always available. I work on it 365 days of the year, and it is a work of personal pride.
So, when you see another book being touted in a gun store, gun range, or CWL class, and it's about Florida law, go ask yourself: Where did that information really come from? If you put my book and the other together and compare them – I think you'll know. There's only one book out there that really explains the law in depth, and accurately – and it's by the guy that handled, and researched all those cases – me. It has the latest information. It's backed by free updates. And is the "cutting edge" of the law that everyone else follows. "Florida Firearms – Law, Use & Ownership" – now in it's 9th edition. The leading book of its kind in the nation.
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