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Press Release
Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces Major Reduction in Concealed Weapons License Review Times
Dade City, Fla. – (July 19, 2019) Today, Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) officials announced a major reduction in review times for concealed weapons licenses in Florida. FDACS is the agency responsible for overseeing more than 2 million concealed weapons licenses in the state.
Speaking at the East Pasco Government Center, and joined by Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, Fried announced that initial review times had been reduced 70 percent for applications with prior arrests or prosecutions, from 88 days in January down to 25 days in July, and reduced 98 percent for applications without prior issues down from 50 days in January to just 1 day in July. The massive improvement in efficiency comes despite a 76 percent increase in applications for concealed weapons licenses in 2019, an average of nearly 20,000 applications per month.
“One of my most important responsibilities is overseeing Florida’s 2 million concealed weapons permits. The serious failures of oversight by the previous administration required that we make major changes in the Division of Licensing – and required that we get this process right,” shared Commissioner Nikki Fried. “I vowed on day one that we would improve efficiency while ensuring that everyone who applies to carry concealed weapons gets the full background check required by law. I’m thankful to our county tax collectors, like Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, for making 70 offices across the state available for in-person applications. Their partnership has helped reduce application errors by 67 percent, making Florida’s concealed weapons program more accountable, efficient, and responsible – because lives and public safety are at stake.”
The announcement culminated a 20-stop, seven-day tour around Florida, with stops in Panama City, Youngstown, Tallahassee, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Miami, Hollywood, Davie, Winter Park, Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Dade City. Fried highlighted various Department priorities at the stops, including food insecurity, aquaculture, access to nutrition, food safety, children’s literacy, consumer protection, energy and climate change, and concealed weapons licensing.
Fried and Fasano were joined by Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez, Dade City Commissioner Scott Black, and staff members for Congressman Gus Bilirakis. Fried also announced today’s news on Twitter.
