Florida honors people’s constitutional rights to bear arms to protect themselves, their families and their property. But even though most people are allowed to possess a gun, there are some regulations by which you must abide. Ignoring these gun laws not only can prevent you from owning a gun, but can also result in severe criminal charges.
Provided you are eligible, you are legally allowed to have a gun for self-defense. However, Florida still has some weapon restrictions that are meant to protect the population from gun violence. If you were accused of violating a gun law, you might need the help of one of our Sarasota gun lawyers. Speak to our hard-working criminal defense attorneys to know more about your legal options.
What Are the Gun Laws in Florida?
Florida Statute § 790 covers the different rules that you need to follow in order to legally possess, carry and own a gun as well as the sentences for violating these restrictions.
Some of the issues that Florida gun laws handle include, but are not limited to:
Legally Own a Weapon
To legally possess a gun in Florida, there are some requirements that you need to meet. Felons, people a court has found mentally incompetent or committed to a mental institution, minors, fugitives and people convicted of domestic violence, to name but a few, cannot own a gun.
Concealed Carry Gun Laws
Since July 1, 2023, Florida no longer requires a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm. Anyone who meets the criteria for a concealed weapon license may carry concealed without one [Fla. Stat. § 790.01]. A person who does not meet those criteria, such as a convicted felon or someone under 21, commits a crime by carrying a concealed weapon or firearm.
Open Carry Laws
Florida’s ban on openly carrying firearms is still in the statute books [Fla. Stat. § 790.053], but in September 2025 an appeals court ruled it unconstitutional in McDaniels v. State, and the Attorney General directed police and prosecutors to stop enforcing it. Adults who may legally possess a firearm can now generally carry one openly. Limits on where guns may be carried still apply, and displaying a gun in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening way is still a crime.
Florida laws on discharging firearms: in Florida, it is legal to discharge a firearm as long as you are legally defending yourself or others or you are an officer on duty. Aside from these exceptions, discharging a firearm in a public place, residential areas or from a vehicle is illegal and can result in criminal charges.
Possession of illegal guns in Florida: some of the Florida and Federal gun legislations cover the type of guns that people are not allowed to possess. According to them, it is illegal to own machine guns and short-barreled rifles or short-barreled shotguns.
Gun laws are extensive in this state. If you want to understand your charges, you should speak to a Sarasota attorney.
Penalties for a Gun Charge in Sarasota
In Florida, a weapon charge can result in imprisonment, fines and the loss of your right to own and possess a gun. Depending on the severity of the offense, gun crimes range from a second-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree felony charge. This could result in a sentence of 60 days up to 30 years imprisonment.
Sentencing for Gun Convictions
In Florida, the penalties for a weapon crime depend on the type of offense. As established before, these charges can range from misdemeanors to felonies. Second-degree misdemeanors is a less severe form of gun charge which results in up to 60 days of jail and a maximum fine of $500.
Misdemeanors
Examples of 2nd-degree misdemeanor gun crimes include leaving a gun within easy reach of a minor and knowingly carrying a gun into a prohibited place such as a courthouse, a school, or an airport terminal. On the other hand, if your gun offense is considered a first-degree misdemeanor, you could face up to 1 year of jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Gun offenses that are classified as first-degree misdemeanors include:
- Carrying a concealed weapon (other than a firearm) when not eligible to carry one
- Violating the gun prohibitions from your injunction of protection
- Discharging a firearm on a residential area
- Minor in possession of a firearm
Felonies
Carrying a concealed firearm when not eligible to carry one, directing a person to discharge a gun from a vehicle, manufacturing or selling certain ammunition, using a nonlethal weapon against a law enforcement officer, and carrying or using a concealed weapon during the commission of a felony are some examples of third-degree felony gun charges. The penalties for these crimes include up to 5 years of prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
Some of the gun crimes that are considered second-degree felonies include:
- Carrying or using a firearm during the commission of a crime
- Discharging a firearm from a vehicle
- Discharging a firearm in school facilities
- Ownership or possession an illegal gun
Finally, you could face a first-degree felony charge if you:
- Are a repeat gun offender or career offender,
- Are a felon in possession of a firearm who qualifies for Florida’s gang enhancement,
- Discharge a machine gun in public or prohibited areas
Violating a gun law in or near Sarasota could face severe consequences, to learn more about potential penalties, you should talk to a lawyer with experience handling weapons and firearms charges.
Gun Laws: Federal Charges
Gun laws exist both at the state and federal levels. This means that, in addition to complying with the Florida legislation, you also need to abide by the weapon laws established by the Federal Government. Failing to follow these regulations can result in a federal crime.
Federal gun charges include but are not limited to:
- Carrying a gun on federal property
- Possessing guns and accessories prohibited by federal law
- Possessing or carrying a gun by a prohibited person
- Carrying guns across state lines
- Selling, manufacturing, or delivering guns by a non-authorized person
- Selling guns to a minor
As is the case with Florida law, the sentences associated with a federal weapon or gun charge depend on the type of offense and the accused’s past criminal history, among other factors. Below are some penalties associated with these crimes.
Keep in mind that these are not definitive sentences since a federal judge has more discretion and will dictate the penalty based on the circumstances of each case:
| Gun offense | Federal charge | Imprisonment |
| Selling or giving a handgun to a minor | Class A misdemeanor; Class C felony if the seller knew the minor intended to use it in a violent crime | Up to 1 year; up to 10 years in the more serious case |
| Possession of a gun by a prohibited person | Class C felony | Up to 15 years |
| Selling ammunition or a gun to an unlawful user | Class C felony | Up to 15 years |
| Using or carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime | Felony | Minimum 5 years, added to any other sentence |
| Carrying a weapon in federal court | Class E felony | Up to 2 years |
| Carrying a weapon on federal property | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year |
The penalties for a federal charge depend on numerous factors. If you are facing a federal accusation for a gun crime, you should enlist the help of a Sarasota defense attorneyat Goldman Wetzel to schedule a free consultation.
Can a Gun Charge Be Dropped in Florida?
If you were accused of violating a firearm law in or near Sarasota or Bradenton, you could face severe criminal charges. Consider seeking the help of a weapon charges attorney that can study your accusations and find the best legal options for your specific case.
Although it depends on the circumstances of each case, a lawyer for gun charges might be able to get your charges dropped. Some of the strategies that the defense attorneys at Goldman Wetzel might be able to use include:
Insufficient Evidence
the prosecution needs to provide enough evidence that proves, without reasonable doubt, that the accused committed a gun crime. If your gun lawyer finds that the evidence held against you is not strong enough, they might be able to get your charges dropped.
Violation of Your Rights
An experienced criminal defense attorney might be able to prove that law enforcement violated your rights during the arrest or criminal justice procedures. Examples of this might include illegal seizures and searches, entrapment or evidence illegally obtained.
No Access to the Weapon
If you are not allowed to have a gun and you were accused of possession, your defense lawyer in Sarasota might be able to prove that you are not the owner of the weapon and that you did not have access to it.
Related Pages
Contact a Sarasota Attorney About Gun Charges
Even though you are allowed to possess a gun in Florida, if you fail to obey certain regulations, you might face criminal charges. Facing a gun crime can result in severe penalties, a criminal record, and the loss of your right to possess a weapon. Given the sensitive nature of these accusations, you might want to speak to a Sarasota gun lawyer.
Goldman Wetzel is a criminal law firm that represents clients facing charges for gun-related crimes, domestic violence, and violent offenses in the Tampa Bay area, Sarasota and Manatee County.
If you or a loved one were accused of breaking a gun law in Sarasota, you might want to talk to a criminal defense attorney. Contact us today to book a free consultation.