On March 12, 2018, the State of Florida passed a comprehensive new law containing 105 pages of additions and changes to Florida’s gun laws. On page 26 of the new law lies a single paragraph that has thousands of Floridans worried that they are now felons. It is very important to note that many people calling us have missed a key sentence immediately prior this section.
This part of the new law, unlike the rest of the law, does not take effect immediately.
Florida’s bump stock ban goes into effect on October 1, 2018.
Beginning on October 1, 2018, the possession of a bump stock is a third-degree felony. There is no provision in the law that grandfathers in those who already own a lawfully-purchased bump stock. If you currently own a bump stock you must sell it, give it away, destroy it, or turn it in prior to October 1, 2018.
Under the new law, “bump stock” is defined as a conversion kit, tool, accessory, or a device used to alter the rate of fire of a firearm to mimic automatic weapon fire or which is used to increase the rate of fire to a faster rate than is possible for a person to fire such semiautomatic firearm unassisted by a kit, tool, accessory, or device.
Seemingly, this ban therefore also includes not only traditional bump-stock accessories, but any high-speed trigger or alteration that would make your firearm fire at a more rapid speed than the manufacturer originally designed it to fire at.
Clarification of what is included and is not included in the definition of bump stock may come at the expense of a few, arrested for modification of their firearms, in court cases, or in future legislation. For now, if you have any accessory or device that has increased the speed at which you can fire your firearm, you should consider this ban as applying to you.
It is very likely that most local Sheriff’s offices and police departments will establish procedures for those who would like to turn in their soon-to-be-illegal bump stocks. If you are considering turning in your bump stock, it is best to call the Sheriff or police department near you and ask them if they have procedures in place that would allow you to turn over your would-be contraband prior to the effective date of the new law.
—David Katz, U.S. LawShield Independent Program Attorney for Florida
To view David’s breaking news video about the law click here.
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