Secure Storage
Laws in Florida

When a firearm is not in use or on the gun owner’s person, gun owners in Florida must store loaded guns securely to prevent unauthorized access if they know or reasonably should know that a child under age 16 is likely to gain access to it. In these circumstances, guns must be stored:

• In a securely locked box or container;
• In a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or
• Secured with a trigger lock.

Gun owners in Florida may be subject to criminal penalties for failing to securely store firearms in the following circumstances:

• They fail to store a loaded firearm in a securely locked box or container, securely locked with a trigger lock, or in a secure location, and a child under 16 gains access to their firearm and possesses it in a public place or in a careless or threatening manner.
• More serious criminal penalties are possible if a child under 16 uses an improperly secured loaded firearm to cause injury or death.

Gun owners who do not follow the above requirements, as well as any additional requirements in their locality, may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties, which could include fines or imprisonment.