Florida Gun Laws Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium during the unveiling ceremony of a bronze George Washington statue in Chipley, Florida.

DeSantis signs bill allowing untrained volunteers to carry guns in Florida churches

The law is effective July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.

by News Service of Florida April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine bills from the 2026 regular session into law on Thursday, including a measure that allows volunteer security guards at houses of worship to carry guns without facing state licensing requirements The bill (SB 52) creates an exemption from state law that regulates private investigative services, private security services, and repossession […]

A close-up of a person wearing a plaid shirt and khaki pants with a black nylon holster on their belt holding a handgun. The individual is standing outdoors, and blurred greenery is visible in the background.

Florida AG says open carry is the law, drawing warnings from Second Amendment Groups

Groups that have been advocating for the Legislature to repeal Florida’s ban on open carry are cheering last week’s ruling—and warning state legislators not to add any new regulations in legislation they offer next year.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 16, 2025September 16, 2025

Florida’s Attorney General says open carry is “the law of the state”

An appeals court reversed a long-standing open carry ban.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida September 15, 2025September 15, 2025

Vaccines and guns: DeSantis gives a sneak peek at 2026 legislative agenda [PHOTOS]

He’s going for open carry again.

by Mitch Perry, Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix September 8, 2025September 9, 2025

Safety group steps in after Florida’s attorney general says he won’t defend ban on long gun purchases

James Uthmeier says he and Gov. Ron DeSantis believe the law is unconstitutional.

by Mitch Perry August 18, 2025August 30, 2025

Report: Florida-born stand-your-ground laws linked to higher homicide rates across US

Homicides with white shooters and Black victims were ruled justifiable four times more often than when roles were reversed.

by Amanda Hernández and Florida Phoenix July 22, 2025July 26, 2025

NRA asks Supreme Court to repeal Florida’s age limit on long gun purchases

The group is once again trying to lower the age limit from 21

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 20, 2025June 25, 2025

‘Gut punch’: Opposition grows to Florida attorney general’s decision not to enforce law banning gun sales to buyers under 21

“It’s sad that we continue to relitigate something that has stood up in the courts.”

by Matthew Cupelli and Fresh Take Florida April 4, 2025April 10, 2025

Court upholds Florida gun law that bars people under 21 from buying rifles

“Any question about constitutionality has now been clearly settled.”

by Dara Kam and News Service of Florida March 17, 2025May 20, 2025

Is this the year Florida restores the rights of 18-year-olds to purchase long guns?

GOP leaders in the past blocked partial repeal of a 2018 gun-safety law.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 13, 2025April 20, 2025

Florida Gov. DeSantis’ latest goal: repeal gun safety measures enacted after Parkland

“The free state of Florida has not exactly led the way on protecting Second Amendment rights,” he said.

by Bea Lunardini and Fresh Take Florida March 4, 2025May 1, 2025

Florida Republicans want to repeal bump stock ban

Lawmakers included the ban in a law that passed after the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 people.

by News Service of Florida February 28, 2025April 5, 2025

Tampa Bay Republican Jay Collins files bill that would allow teens to buy rifles

The House last year passed a bill that would have repealed the law, but the Senate did not approve it.

by News Service of Florida February 21, 2025June 12, 2025

Florida Republican wants to repeal law banning teens from owning assault rifles

The bill is similar to a measure that passed the House during the 2024 session but failed in the Senate.

by News Service of Florida December 11, 2024January 13, 2025

Florida House panel votes to lower age limit for gun purchases

The bill would reverse an age requirement passed after the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

by News Service of Florida January 31, 2024February 28, 2024

Tampa Bay Republican files bill to allow ‘open carry’ of firearms

Beltran’s bill was filed on the first day of the 2024 legislative session.

by Colin Wolf and News Service of Florida January 10, 2024January 25, 2025

Florida law making gun carry permits optional leads to dramatic drop in safety classes

“We see a lot of people who say, ‘I’ve been around guns all my life,’ but then they realize how much they don’t know.”

by Jack Lemnus and Fresh Take Florida November 1, 2023January 12, 2025

New bill would allow Florida residents to conceal guns without a permit

The group Prevent Gun Violence Florida vowed to fight against the legislation and cited “a clear link between lax gun laws and increased gun violence.”

by Ryan Dailey and News Service of Florida January 31, 2023August 3, 2023

NRA seeks to overturn Florida law prohibiting rifle sales to adults under 21

Federal law already barred sales of handguns to people under 21.

by Dara Kam and News Service of Florida May 20, 2022August 3, 2023