Florida AG says SBRs, SBS now legal without NFA registration
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has told residents that short-barreled rifles and shotguns can now be legally possessed in the state without federal NFA registration, tax stamps, or approval.
Snapshot
Uthmeier issued a legal memorandum stating that "all law-abiding residents of the State of Florida may now possess a short-barreled rifle (SBR) or short-barreled shotgun (SBS) without fear of prosecution." The opinion leans on recent federal court action and a shift in ATF enforcement policy rather than any change to Florida's own statute, according to Bearing Arms.
Key points
- Legal basis: Uthmeier argues that Florida Statute 790.221's exception for firearms lawfully possessed under federal law now covers SBRs and SBS owners, given recent federal developments.
- Federal backdrop: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act zeroed out making and transfer taxes on short-barreled firearms and suppressors, and a federal judge in Texas issued an injunction finding no congressional authority to require registration without those taxes.
- ATF response: The Department of Justice and ATF have adopted the position that these items can now be purchased like non-NFA firearms, per Bearing Arms' reporting.
- Not a repeal: The Florida Legislature has not repealed the underlying statute, and Congress has not repealed the NFA, meaning Uthmeier's opinion is an interpretation, not new law.
- Political risk: Bearing Arms' Cam Edwards warns that if Democrats regain power and reinstate the tax, the injunction's rationale — and Uthmeier's position — could unravel.
Quick take
Edwards credits Uthmeier for another pro-gun move but cautions that this victory rests on shifting federal ground tied to tax policy and court rulings, not permanent statutory change. He argues lasting protection will require federal courts to address the NFA's constitutionality directly.
Read the full story: bearingarms.com