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FLORIDA - Florida residents will be able to purchase firearms, ammunition, and outdoor equipment without paying sales tax, marking the first time the state has included guns in a tax holiday.
The exemption will continue through the end of the year and applies to hunting, camping, and fishing items.
Talon Tactical Outfitters, west of Tallahassee, has increased its inventory of rifles, shotguns, and handguns in anticipation of higher demand.
The store also operates an adjacent firing range.
The tax holiday was included in Florida’s HB 7031 budget package passed in June and was originally proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as a “Second Amendment Summer” tax break.
Eligible items include bows and accessories, tents under $200, sleeping bags and stoves under $50, camping lanterns under $30, fishing rods and reels under $75, tackle boxes under $30, and bait under $5.
State economists project that the tax holiday will save consumers $44.8 million in 2025, with $34.6 million in lost state revenue and $10.2 million in lost local revenue.
While the exemption provides financial relief for outdoor enthusiasts, some critics have called for additional safety measures, such as including gun safes and locks in the tax-free period.