Florida Gets 2A Tax Holiday

Florida should have much better gun rights laws than it currently has. I've said before it's the most restrictive pro-gun state in the nation, and I stand by that. The fact that they couldn't get open carry or a repeal of the post-Parkland gun ban for adults under 21 just solidifies that opinion in my mind.

It's pathetic.

But, it seems at least one good thing happened. Florida is getting a sales tax holiday for guns and outdoor equipment.

Of course, some are framing it as something else, as we can see from the headline of this piece: "FLORIDA LAW: You Can Buy Your Murder Weapon Tax Free."

Yeah, really.

Environmentally-friendly HOV lanes are out, but deadly weapons are in as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs the “Second Amendment Tax Holiday” into law. The law, which takes effect on July 1st, creates a sales tax holiday for weapons and related gear for more than a quarter of the year.

Here is the announcement made by Gov. DeSantis’ press office on Monday in a statement received by BocaNewsNow.com:

“The FY 2025-2026 budget includes $2 billion in tax relief focused on permanently repealing the business rent tax, renewing and expanding several sales tax holidays, and providing additional tax holidays to help keep more money in the pockets of Florida’s families. The budget saves Florida families more than $428 million through several sales tax holidays, including:

A “Second Amendment” sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025, providing relief on purchases of bows, firearms, ammunition, tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, fishing rods and reels, tackle boxes, and bait and tackle.

There are other measures covered, but these are the ones most likely of interest to Bearing Arms readers.

No mention of murder weapons, though. Curious.

I should note to Boca News Now that most murderers aren't using lawfully purchased firearms in the first place, so they haven't been paying sales tax on them. You know, just for the sake of journalistic integrity, should such a thing still exist.

Regardless, the tax holiday is a good thing for a lot of reasons, up to and including encouraging people from out of state to pick up outdoor gear in the Sunshine State rather than at home. Especially if prices are otherwise the same. I'm not about paying any more in taxes than I have to, and if I happen to be in Florida, I might just pick something up there that I might not have bothered with otherwise.

And then, of course, there are the guns.

Yes, this covers guns and things related to firearms, such as ammunition. This, too, might encourage people to pick up something while in the state they might not have bothered with.

That means it's a pretty smart move, from an economic standpoint. It also will help poorer Floridians afford a firearm for self-defense since they won't have to deal with state sales tax as well as the cost of the firearm.

I'm glad to see this one happen.

Now, if only they could get that open carry thing worked out. Then we'd be onto something.