Gun owner education for Florida

The four rules of firearm safety

1. Treat every gun as if it is loaded. Check it yourself, every time.
2. Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have decided to shoot.
4. Know your target and what is beyond it.

We enforce these on our lane with trainers that can't fire, so the habits carry over to real firearms.

Safe storage at home

Florida law requires anyone who stores or leaves a loaded firearm where a minor under 16 could get to it to keep it in a securely locked box or container, in a location a reasonable person would believe is secure, or secured with a trigger lock (s. 790.174, F.S.).

• Store firearms locked and unloaded when not in use, with ammunition stored separately.
• Free cable locks are available through Project ChildSafe at participating law enforcement agencies.
• A quick-access safe keeps a home-defense handgun secured but reachable.

Buying a firearm in Florida

• Background check: licensed dealers in Florida run your purchase through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
• Waiting period: Florida has a 3-day waiting period on handgun purchases from a dealer, excluding weekends and legal holidays. Concealed weapon license holders are exempt (s. 790.0655, F.S.). Some counties extend it, so ask the dealer.
• Try before you buy: grip size, trigger reach and weight matter more than reviews. Use our lane to compare a Glock 17, 19 and 45 trainer, or an AR-15 trainer with a red dot, before you buy.
• Short-barreled rifles and suppressors: the federal tax dropped to $0 on January 1, 2026, and on October 9, 2026 ATF announced it will no longer require NFA approval or registration for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs. This is an enforcement policy, not a repeal of the law, and machine guns are unchanged. See ATF: National Firearms Act.

Carrying and self-defense

• Florida allows eligible adults to carry a concealed firearm without a license. Read the full rules in our Florida concealed carry guide.
• Florida's self-defense and use-of-force laws are in Chapter 776, F.S. Understand them before you carry.
• Florida's main weapons and firearms laws are in Chapter 790, F.S.

Dry-fire practice safely at home

• Pick one practice room and one safe direction with a solid backstop.
• Unload the firearm and put all ammunition in a different room. Check again.
• Use a laser trainer, a snap cap or a laser cartridge instead of a loaded magazine.
• When you stop, say "practice is over" out loud before you reload. Most dry-fire accidents happen at that moment.
• Short, focused sessions work best: 10–15 minutes, a few times a week.

Minors and firearms

Under Florida law, a minor under 18 generally may not possess a firearm except an unloaded one at home, unless they are hunting or in lawful marksmanship or recreational shooting, with adult supervision required under 16 (s. 790.22, F.S.). Our trainers only fire a laser. On our lane, ages 12–17 may shoot with a parent or guardian present.

Free resources and documents

• FDACS Concealed Weapon License — Florida's official license program, forms, reciprocity and possession restrictions
• License application instructions (PDF) — FDACS step-by-step instructions
• Florida Statutes Chapter 790 — weapons and firearms law
• Florida Statutes Chapter 776 — justifiable use of force
• Project ChildSafe — safe storage guidance and free gun locks
• NSSF firearm safety — safety guides and videos
• FWC hunter safety course — Florida hunter safety course, which also counts as license training
• ATF: National Firearms Act — SBRs, suppressors and other NFA items

General information only, not legal advice. Laws and court rulings change. Confirm with the official source or a Florida attorney.