Even Philadelphia police can't get a list of the names or the number of city residents with Florida permits without subpoenaing the state, which they are working with the District Attorney's Office to do, King said.
Each year, Philadelphia's gun-permit unit sends numerous letters to Florida asking the state to revoke permits from Philadelphia residents. While King recalled one request being honored, they usually go nowhere, she said.
"These are just the . . . criminals we know of and when we ask Florida to revoke them, they won't," she said.
King said that it's the Philadelphia Police Department's ability to deny or revoke a permit on character and reputation that is key to keeping Philadelphia streets safe.
She said that the majority of Philadelphia citizens who have permits are law-abiding, but it's a bad group and a bad loophole that tarnishes the reputation of upstanding permit holders.
King hopes that the loophole will be acknowledged by those with the power to change it soon.
"Does every politician know about it? Probably not," she said. "Do we need to make them aware of it? Absolutely.
"Do they need to step up and get this changed? Yes."
