I was talking to one of my colleagues who told me he’d met with another attorney who had a Class C license (private investigator) and Class G license (armed security) and that the gentleman clamied with these licenses he could enter any public building (not sure if he was including Federal buildings) and did not have to disarm.
Generally speaking this would be true for places that are only prohibited by F.S. 790.06(12)(a) - e.g. a bar. It may or may not be true for places prohibited by other statutes (e.g. schools and 790.115) - there are mixed opinions about that. It would not necessarily be true at all for places federally prohibited unless the federal prohibition contained an exemption that would fit the carrying authorized by 493.6115.
The key here is that the "prohibited places" list found in 790.06(12)(a) only applies to CWFL holders and does not apply to Class G licensees while performing official duties. If you are performing official duties you can carry in a bar, professional athletic event, etc., because there are no statutes that say you can't.
Further, this is what is says on the back of the Class G license:
Throughout the state in any location.
I've often wondered how that would work out at a courthouse. There's no legal prohibition against a PI carrying in a courthouse and legally the county can't make any firearms rules, so in theory it would be OK. That said I'm pretty sure the deputies working the metal detectors aren't going to let you in with a gun. They did let me keep my handcuff keys (that they wanted to confiscate) because of my PI license - but that's not a gun either.
He also said that law school was sufficient to meet the education requirements. I read the statute and didn’t find anything explicit to back up his claims, but I only spent 15-20 minutes looking. Perhaps some of you who have the licenses could give me your thoughts?
Here is what the application says about meeting the training/experience requirement:
In order to qualify for a Class “C” license, you must have two years of LAWFULLY GAINED, VERIFIABLE, FULL-TIME EXPERIENCE in one, or a combination of more than one, of the following three categories. Please note that no more than one year of college coursework/training from Category 2 can be applied toward the two-year requirement.
- Private investigative work or related fields of work that provide equivalent experience or training.
- College course work related to criminal justice, criminology, or law enforcement administration, or successful completion of any law-enforcement-related training received from any federal, state, county, or municipal agency.
- Employment as a Class “CC” intern. Internship is computed on a full-time, 40-hour workweek basis. Overtime hours worked beyond the 40-hour workweek cannot be used to reduce the two-year requirement.
Also, any ideas as to the cost of the class G training and the cost of the annual requalification?
The 28 hour Class G course required for initial licensing is around $200 - perhaps a little less here and there. It is generally held as two 10 hour days over a weekend and an 8 hour range day where you will shoot the course of fire. Generally speaking the 28 hour class is going to cover laws, firearm safety, lawful use of force, etc., but generally doesn't not cover any teaching of how to shoot. I always tell people that if you're not already good shooting accurately from a holster then you need to get good before you take the class or you'll fail.
That said, if you're a decent pistol shooter the course of fire is pretty damn easy to pass. I usually get a perfect score on it. It was revised recently and made even more easy as the requirement to draw from the holster has been removed since so many ranges do not allow it. That said, some instructors will still have you draw from the holster.
You cannot apply for a Class G license unless you are simultaneously applying for a Class D, CC, C, M, MA, or MB license, or already have submitted an application for, or already hold, one of those classes of licenses.
Once you get your Class G license you must requalify with the calibers that you will carry each year prior to your license anniversary date. This trips a lot of people up because they miss the year in the middle and then their license gets nuked and they have to take the 28 hour class all over again. The cost of the "requal" is usually around $65 for one caliber and another $55 for each additional caliber. That varies from instructor to instructor.
I think I answered all your questions, but if I glossed over something you'd like more details about please let me know.