ORLANDO, Fla. – After seven people were injured in a mass shooting in downtown Orlando in 2022, the city of Orlando and Orlando police added six security checkpoints to enter the downtown entertainment district. Those checkpoints included metal detectors and police K9s to access the street where Orlando’s bars and clubs bustle.

Two years later, those checkpoints are gone. On Friday morning, two people were killed and eight others were injured in a mass shooting downtown, where hundreds of people were celebrating Halloween.

A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody and faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting, police said.

During a morning news conference with Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith and Florida State Attorney Andrew Bain, questions were raised about downtown security.

“It all went away when somehow the law changed”

“It all went away when, in a way, the law changed, when the law changed, and basically you can carry a gun on a public street as long as you meet certain criteria. So when it changed, we couldn’t do that anymore,” Chief Smith said, referring to Florida’s so-called permitless carry of concealed weapons.

Under this law, Floridians can carry a concealed handgun without a government permit. However, anyone carrying a concealed weapon must also carry a valid ID and produce that ID when requested by a law enforcement officer.

“It’s unfortunate that changes to concealed weapons laws have made it even easier for people to carry guns and carry guns and bring guns downtown. I am honestly frustrated that I have to stand in front of all of you and once again share the news that another life has been senselessly lost to gun violence,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

This law does not apply:

• Anyone under 21 years of age

• Convicted criminals

• Anyone convicted of certain violent crimes, such as misdemeanor domestic violence

• People subject to a domestic violence or repeat violence order

• Those who have been committed by a court to a mental institution or substance abuse facility

• Florida residents convicted of drug offenses or illegal drug use (including medical marijuana card holders)

In the state of Florida, it is also illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess a firearm unless it is unloaded and in their home, according to state statutes.

Related: Downtown Orlando shooting: What we know about 17-year-old suspect

“Law enforcement is always changing. We’re working with the city and the downtown clubs to figure out if there’s anything else we can go to to keep it safe down there. We have no idea what people have, you know, personally, if they have a grudge against somebody, you know, most people are there to have a great time, and of course you always have those few people who come in there and have different things in mind ”, Chief Smith. say.

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