Gregory Kielma • December 31, 2025
Florida Gun Law Changes to Watch in 2026
Gregg Kielma
Florida Gun Law Changes to Watch in 2026
Gregg Kielma
12/31/25
Happy New Year Florida Firearm Owners and Firearm Owners Around the Country. Today we look at firearm ownership in Florida. Don’t dismay, I promise to look at all the firearm 2026, laws monthly in each state across the United States starting with Alabama in a few days. Please be patient and check back as I receive the best and most updated information in real time as I receive it.
Disclaimer: I’m not an attorney, however, as I scour the internet and make calls to state capitols to verify, I’ll give you the best information I receive in real time.
My Home State, Florida: Let’s Take a LOOK
A Tactical K Training & Firearms Educational Brief
As we move into 2026, Florida gun owners are facing a year of significant legal movement. While no single sweeping law automatically takes effect on January 1, several major legislative and court driven changes are in motion that could reshape how Floridians purchase, carry, and train with firearms. At Tactical K Training & Firearms,
our mission is to keep our community informed, prepared, and confident in their responsibilities as lawful gun owners.
Florida: Below is a clear, no-nonsense breakdown of the most important developments to watch in 2026.
1. Possible Change: Long Gun Purchase Age Lowered to 18
Florida lawmakers are again considering lowering the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 back to 18. A bill advancing through the Legislature would reverse the 2018 post Parkland age increase.
If passed, this would:
• Restore 18–20 year old adults’ ability to purchase long guns
• Align Florida with federal standards
• Expand access for younger hunters, sports shooters, and new firearm owners
This is one of the most closely watched proposals of the 2026 session.
2. Open Carry May Become Legal
A recent appeals court ruling found Florida’s open carry ban unconstitutional, setting the stage for a major shift in how Floridians may legally carry firearms.
What this could mean:
• Florida could move from permitless concealed carry to full permitless carry
• Open carry could become lawful statewide
• Final outcome depends on whether the Florida Supreme Court upholds or overturns the ruling for gun owners, this is a potential game changer.
3. Thirteen Gun Related Bills Filed for the 2026 Session
Lawmakers have filed a wide range of firearm related bills for consideration in 2026. These include proposals to:
• Repeal the under 21 purchase restriction
• Expand or clarify permitless carry
• Introducing new background check requirements
• Adjust existing statutes based on recent court decisions
Not all of these bills will advance, but the volume alone signals a year of active debate.
4. U.S. Supreme Court May Review Florida’s Under 21 Rifle Ban
Florida’s 2018 law restricting long gun purchases to those 21 and older is now positioned for potential review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
If the Court takes the case:
• A ruling could override Florida law
• The Legislature may adjust state statutes in response
• National precedent could be set
This is a major federal level factor influencing Florida’s 2026 landscape.
5. Permitless Concealed Carry Remains in Effect
Florida’s 2023 permitless concealed carry law remains unchanged. Optional concealed weapon licenses (CWLs) continue to be available, and the state has streamlined the application process with faster approvals and reduced administrative delays.
At Tactical K Training and Firearms,
we continue to recommend training and education for all firearm owners — with or without a permit.
What This Means for Florida Gun Owners
2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year. The most likely areas of change include:
• Age requirements for long gun purchases
• Open carry legality
• Court driven adjustments to existing statutes
• Legislative updates affecting training, purchasing, and carrying
As always, Tactical K Training & Firearms
will continue to monitor developments and provide clear, responsible updates to our students and community.
Kielma’s Parting Shot: Stay Informed Stay Responsible.
Whether you’re a new gun owner or a seasoned shooter, understanding Florida’s evolving legal landscape is essential. Tactical K Training and Firearms
is committed to delivering accurate information and high-quality training that empowers you to carry confidently and responsibly.
Gregg Kielma
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Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
