Florida Approves Tax-Free Holiday on Guns, Ammo, Outdoor Gear

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 2025 state budget along with a notable tax break known as the "Second Amendment Tax Holiday," offering tax-free sales on firearms, ammunition, and outdoor gear from September 8 through December 31. This tax holiday aims to provide financial relief to Floridians, with anticipated savings totaling over $8 million, and is expected to boost demand in the gun market, which has softened in recent years. While Republicans tout the tax holiday as a win supporting outdoor activities and Second Amendment rights, Democrats criticize the timing and implications, especially following recent mass shootings in Florida and Minnesota. The initiative also includes other tax cuts, such as the repeal of Florida's business rent tax and permanent sales tax holidays for hurricane preparedness and back-to-school shopping. Florida joins other states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina in offering such Second Amendment tax breaks. The debate highlights contrasting perspectives on gun control and economic relief amid ongoing concerns about public safety and inflation.