Talon Tactical Outfitters west of Tallahassee has bulked up its inventory of hunting rifles and shotguns.
Starting Monday and running through the end of the year, Florida will provide a sales-tax exemption on a variety of hunting equipment, the first time a state tax “holiday” includes guns and ammunition.
JD Johnson, an owner of Talon, which also has a neighboring firing range, said Tuesday several customers had already reached out to him about plans to make purchases after the discount period begins.
“It’s going to be a significant tax break. Guns are not cheap anymore,” Johnson said. “If you buy a good gun, you’re going to spend a decent amount of money.”
The cost of a quality handgun starts around $400 and can easily exceed $1,000. Hunting rifles range from $500 to $2,500, with a scope adding $400 to $2,000. And then there are accessories and ammunition.
“Ammo is not cheap. The price has never really recovered or come down from the COVID years,” Johnson said. “And the ammunition industry is very international, so we’re dealing with some components of tariffs and things like … availability because of conflicts around the world.”
Johnson said it’s not uncommon for someone to buy $200 or $300 worth of ammunition just for time at the range.
The tax holiday starting Monday also will allow people to avoid paying sales taxes on camping and fishing equipment through the end of the year. It was part of a broad tax package (HB 7031) that lawmakers passed in June.
The state has long held tax holidays for such things as back-to-school supplies and hurricane-preparation supplies. The tax package, for example, included a back-to-school tax holiday that lasted throughout August.
Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed a “Second Amendment Summer” tax holiday when he made budget recommendations before this spring’s legislative session. The idea evolved to a holiday later in the year that also included camping and fishing equipment.
Johnson said later in the year is a stronger selling season for hunting equipment in Florida.
State economists have projected the holiday will save shoppers $44.8 million this year, reducing state revenue by $34.6 million and local revenue by $10.2 million.
While proponents talk of encouraging more gun purchases, the holiday has drawn criticism from people such as Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton.
Polsky called it “irresponsible, coldly political and a slap in the face to the victims and their families” to offer a tax break that encourages more guns, regardless of type, along with attachments such as silencers.
“There is no requirement that these purchases actually be hunting-related,” Polsky wrote recently.
She added the holiday does not cap the prices of firearms eligible for the tax exemption. The state, for example, capped the prices of clothes and personal computers that were covered in the back-to-school tax holiday.
Meanwhile, the League of Women Voters of Florida said the state should have included gun safes and locks in the discount period.
In addition to guns, ammunition and firearm accessories, other items exempt from sales taxes during the period will include bows and accessories; tents that cost $200 or less; sleeping bags and camping stoves that cost $50 or less; camping lanterns that cost $30 or less; fishing rods and reels that cost $75 or less; fishing tackle boxes that cost $30 or less; and bait and fishing tackle that costs $5 or less.
–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
Deborah Coffey says
Great. Let’s have more school shootings. It’s cheaper.
Bob says
Guns and ammo, but not books. Yep, that’s the Florida I remember growing up in. At least it’s not baseball bats again … yet.
YankeeExPat says
Does that also apply to the purchase of lances and trebuchets ?
Bartholomew says
What’s next a tax break on cigarettes and liquor?🥃
Dennis C Rathsam says
Time to stock up on that Xtra gun, & plenty of bullets. At the rate his country is going be prepared for another cival war. Boy scouts moto Be Prepared
Pogo says
@Viva NRA
… and the land of flowers…
Laurel says
Just in time for the school year.
Thoughts and prayers…
Jim says
@Dennis C Rathsam says, help me out a little. All you write in your wonderful, thoughtful and witty essays is how great Trump is making America again. I can’t figure out why there would ever be a civil war as long as Trump is continually making things so much better? Are you trying to have it both ways? Or is there some little, tiny part of you that secretly sees that things are not getting better?
Just curious as to how your genius mind sees it…
BillC says
Guns don’t kill people. People with guns do.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Democrats are at a loss, the hate they put forth is simply mind blowing! Radical judges, unfounded litigations to stop whatt 77 million Americans voted for! TRUMP could cure cancer, yet some liberal fool jackass judge would fight it. Men want to compete in girls sports, when 1/2 of them don’t know if there a girl or a boy.TRUMPS doing more for America, cleaning up America then 10 Joe Bidens!!!! Sorry Jim TRUMP cares more for Americans, than the democrats do. All they care about is helping Bidens invaders. Sex TRAFFICING murder & crime. Saving mentally disturbed trans kids! This is why democrats are POLLING 19%!!! OH DEAR One day the south will rise again, real American don’t want what your selling, they will push back & make America great again, or we will die trying!
Dennis C Rathsam says
So I get no reply
Against toxic lead emissions says
Thank you President Trump for keeping our Country safe, protecting our borders, and ridding us of horrific gang members, human traffickers, and sexual predators. Bet your ass we will be stocking up on ammo. Now just have RFK end the insane intentional poisoning of our children by allowing student pilots from across the globe to train an average of 520 daily operations over our noise sensitive and densely populated homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses in antique lead emitting aircraft mere 200 feet from disaster. This is a public safety, health, and welfare emergency that needs to end immediately, before more children are harmed and the next aviation catastrophe happens here in Palm Coast.
DemsRSpineless says
Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton. Say no more.
Yippee says
@Dennis C Rathsam – I’m going to visit all my local gun shops and venture out from there for deals.
Tony Mack says
“So I get no reply”…says DR. Frankly Dennis, you’re not worth the spit it would take to polish my combat boots…
Laurel says
Dennis C Rathsam: Mostly because people have given up on you.
Jake from state farm says
@Dennis – Well said
@Sherry – Nailed it. Because obviously…
Cars drive drunk.
Pencils are out here butchering spelling tests.
And let’s not forget — spoons are making people fat.
At this rate, I’m half-expecting forks to be charged with assault and chairs to be blamed for laziness.
When exactly do the liberal geniuses plan on asking people to take responsibility for their own actions? Or is accountability just another “oppressive social construct” now?
You can’t make this stuff up
Me says
There are other news stations besides Fox, try watching one. And answer yourself what have those elected benefited me personally or which one hasn’t?
Do your research before voting or approving of someone that isn’t in the best interest of our country and democracy.
Be nice one day if any party can sit down as adults and work for the best interest for all and not just some.
Sherry says
@jake. . . I haven’t commented on this story. Why are you so “obsessed” with me and the “credible facts” I present? Are you delusional? This is way beyond “Trolling”! So glad I now live in California. . . far away from “You” and people like you!
Laurel says
Sherry: You are living in Jake fsf’s head! Sweet dreams are made of these…
Hahahahahaha!
Good job!
Sherry says
@ Laurel. . . LOL! LOL! LOL! I’m thinking you are “Right On”!
Maga crazies. . . afraid of “FACTS”. . . as they sure as hell should be! At least some of them are reading what I post. . . even if they are obsessive about every word I’ve written, or “NOT” written.
So happy to be thousands of miles away from that!
Return to sender says
‘… “It’s going to be a significant tax break. Guns are not cheap anymore,” Johnson said. “If you buy a good gun, you’re going to spend a decent amount of money.” …’
https://www.pof-usa.com/firearm/phoenix-9mm/
NOW THAT’S some pistola!
Well, I guess that’s what passes for a 9mm “pistol” nowadays… without the stock.
Right Wrathsam?
Return to sender says
… by the way, if you were wondering what “blowback” or “two port” or the technological advantages of an anodized barrel in preventing jamming means (like I was), consider this as a comparative reference…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle
Thanks Wrathsam… reading of you packing a 9mm awhile back prompted me to take a short “deep dive” into just what IS a 9mm gun by today’s standards.
It was very educational.
Return to sender says
Yup, I wouldn’t be surprised… it’s just a matter of time… before gun manufacturers add something like this to their “optional accessories” offerings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M320_Grenade_Launcher_Module
A bit extreme, but perhaps one could argue a need for its purchase… you never know who, or what, you might run into while walking your dog nowadays.
Just an opinion… on the sad state of humanity.
James says
Stock up all ya want Wrathsam… you still don’t have the right caliber.
Just a more informed opinion.