Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new tax holiday for Florida on Monday and he's calling it "Second Amendment Summer."
It's part of his 2025-2026 budget proposal titled "Focus on Fiscal Responsibility."
'A holiday on the wrong thing': Reactions to gun sales tax holiday
The tax holiday would allow people to purchase firearms, ammunition and accessories tax-free from Memorial Day to July 4.
"I think this is going to be wildly popular," DeSantis said in response to a question about whether he expects pushback from the legislature on the gun sales tax holiday. "Why would they want to fight back on that? This is something their voters would expect them to support."
The governor's office claims this tax holiday could save Floridians $8 million on gun and ammo purchases.
Brian Devito runs The Tactical Store in Fort Pierce on U.S. Route 1. Monday, he saw the outline for Gov. DeSantis’ “Second Amendment Summer" proposal.
"Well, we think in the summertime our industry traditionally slows down so we welcome any tax-free holiday," Devito told Scripps News West Palm Beach's Jon Shainman.
Devito said the average price of a firearm is about $600, so that would mean $42 in savings.
Gov. Ron DeSantis debuts new Florida tax holiday as part of budget proposal
"I think if someone was tight on money and knew that if they came in the next month and I could save $42 or $50, they might wait," said Devito, adding that firearm pricing is usually pretty rigid.
"In our industry, if our supplier or manufacturer has a sale, that enables us to have a sale, but without their support, it’s very difficult for us to do a sale.”
Cathy Swerdlow believes it's a holiday on the wrong thing. She is chair of the gun violence action prevention team with the League of Women Voters.
Swerdlow said existing taxes on guns and ammunition don’t prevent people from buying firearms.
“What we really need is a tax holiday on gun safes and trigger locks, so that people who have guns can store them appropriately," said Swerdlow.
Swerdlow is heading to Tallahassee this week to push for firearms safety and is looking to find willing partners the governor’s office would approve of to make it happen.
The budget still needs to be approved by the legislature, when the regular session starts March 4.
This story was originally published by Audra Schroeder and Jon Shainman at Scripps News West Palm Beach.
