Buying Your First Gun in Florida: The Steps

To buy a firearm in Florida you must be 21 or older, pass a records check at a licensed dealer, and wait out the three-day waiting period unless an exemption applies. The smartest first step is not the purchase. It is a class.

Step 1: Take a class before you shop

A class tells you what suits your hands, your home, and your goals. People who rent and try several firearms before buying tend to avoid the expensive mistake of buying one that doesn't fit. Our beginner class is built for exactly this.

Step 2: Confirm you can legally buy

• Age. Section 790.065(13) says a person younger than 21 may not purchase a firearm. There are exceptions for law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and service members buying a rifle or shotgun. Lawmakers have repeatedly proposed lowering the age for long guns, so check the current law before you buy.

• Eligibility. Felony convictions, certain domestic violence injunctions, and other disqualifiers can stop a sale.

Step 3: Choose a licensed dealer

A licensed dealer runs the paperwork, including a federal form and a records check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The check covers the Florida Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center. Section 790.065(1)(a) allows the state to charge a fee for it.

Step 4: Wait out the waiting period

The waiting period applies to firearm purchases. It is three days, not counting weekends and legal holidays, or until the records check is complete, whichever is later (section 790.0655). Holders of a Florida concealed weapon license, trade-ins, and certain others (including some rifle and shotgun buyers with a hunter safety card) are exempt (section 790.0655(2)).

Step 5: Plan storage and training before you bring it home

Buy a lockbox or safe before the firearm comes home. Schedule your first range session while the waiting period runs. See our safe storage guide.

Step 6: Keep learning

One class doesn't make a shooter. Plan a follow-up session within the first month, and a refresher class every year or two.

What to do next

Book a beginner class, or ask about a private lesson if you'd rather learn one-on-one. Text (305) 791-4249 or email info@topshotmiami.com.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change. Consult a Florida attorney about your situation. Last reviewed October 3, 2026.

Sources: Florida Statutes 790.065 and 790.0655 (flsenate.gov).

More free guides: Free Firearms Resources From Miami Instructors