While traditional open carry is generally banned, Florida law allows the open carry of handguns while hunting or fishing.

To be clear, you can wear an exposed handgun in a holster if you’re fishing — period. It’s completely legal.

There are a few other exceptions.

This fishing exception was apparently unknown by Miami Beach police officers Sunday morning.

The results were almost tragic.

Thank God no one was killed or seriously injured.

Details are still emerging, but here’s what we know for sure:

A group of fishermen — who were lawfully open-carrying handguns — was fishing off of the South Pointe Pier in Miami Beach Sunday morning at around 10:40, when they were confronted by Miami Beach police officers.

At some point during the confrontation, a Miami Beach police officer pointed his gun at the group. At least one man was unlawfully detained and his weapon was confiscated.

Police injured one man’s shoulder when they took him to the ground. He was later transported to a hospital.

The fishermen were members of Florida Carry, Inc. — one of the state’s most active pro-gun groups.

They immediately contacted Sean Caranna and Richard Nascak — co-founders and co-executive directors of Florida Carry, Inc. and told them about the confrontation.

They also took pictures.

Sean and Richard contacted Eric Friday, the group’s general counsel and one of Florida’s most knowledgeable pro-gun attorneys.

Mr. Friday tried calling Miami Beach PD, but some official tried to pass him off to the department’s Public Information Officer.

Instead, Mr. Friday fired off this email to the Miami Beach Police Chief and command staff:

Dear Sirs, You are hereby on notice that today June 24, 2018 at approximately 1140, members of Florida Carry were illegally detained and possibly arrested by officers of the Miami Beach Police Department. I am sending you this email in an attempt to mitigate any damages caused by the actions of your officers this morning. Members of Florida Carry were lawfully fishing while open carrying firearms at the South Pointe Pier. The law on this issue is very clear. See, Freeman v. City of Tampa (MD. Fla. 2018). Your officers drew firearms and committed an aggravated assault on my members. They violated my members First, Second, and Fourth Amendment rights. It is unclear at this time if my members were merely detained or were arrested. I hereby demand the immediate release of any persons arrested at the pier while engaged in lawful conduct. Eric J. Friday General Counsel, Florida Carry

Apparently, the warning may have diffused the situation on the fishing pier.

Here’s Mr. Friday’s follow-up email:

Dear Sirs, It appears that all members are being released. I appreciate any efforts either of you took to prevent an arrest. Please consider this a notice to preserve all records related to this incident including any written notes taken by officers. Furthermore, please consider this a public records request for all radio traffic, police reports, CAD reports, 911 calls, non-emergency police calls, body camera videos and any other records in the possession of the city whether in print or electronic form regarding the incident at the South Pointe Pier this morning. Please produce all records in their original format. Eric J. Friday General Counsel, Florida Carry

This type of ignorance by law enforcement has happened before, most recently in Tampa.

While it appears that Sunday’s confrontation deescalated before anyone was physically harmed, it should never have happened in the first place.

If you want to enforce the law, you must first know the law.

To be clear, we’re lucky that Florida Carry members are so well trained and so tolerant.

If a civilian pointed a handgun at a group of fishermen, they’d likely be facing aggravated assault charges, but what will happen to this officer is anyone’s guess.

I hope a lawsuit is forthcoming, since it’s the only mechanism capable of teaching these police departments a lesson.

Click here to read our follow-up story. Click here to watch a video of the confrontation.

I will be contacting the Miami Beach police chief Monday morning to follow up on this troubling story.

In the meantime, here’s the photos taken by Florida Carry, Inc. members: