It’s well known that firearm owners, along with sportsmen and women, invest a lot of time, effort, and especially money into being good stewards of their Second Amendment rights and their love of the outdoors. Taxes, including federal excise taxes, are paid on many of the tools fundamental to these activities, in particular, firearms and ammunition. Additional fees for permits, licenses, and stamps are also paid that contribute to the “user pays-public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding when purchasing firearms, ammunition, and outdoor-related sporting goods and accessories. Needless to say, the firearm and outdoor loving community deserve a little tax holiday at the very least!
Governor Ron DeSantis recently made news by signing the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which included a Second Amendment sales tax holiday. The holiday will run September 8 through December 31, 2025, and provide sales tax relief on purchases of firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition, bows, crossbows, and other related accessories. NRA applauds Governor DeSantis’ for prioritizing these critical tax-saving measures for Floridians as well as the legislators and governors across the nation that have taken similar steps in working to remove financial barriers to growing the shooting sports and outdoor recreation communities.
Back in 2008, when South Carolina implemented its first ever Outdoor Sporting Goods Tax Holiday, there was a 650% increase in gun sales alone in one day. Mississippi enacted legislation in 2014 creating “Second Amendment Weekend Holiday” with similar tax exemptions for firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies, and this year is set to run August 29-31, 2025. Louisiana’s annual Second Amendment sales tax holiday is set for September 5-7, 2025, and also includes tax breaks on purchases of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies.
Similar legislative efforts have started in other states including Alabama, Maryland, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas among others in hopes of gaining more tax holiday momentum. But why not aspire to be like West Virginia, where, since 2021, all small arms and ammunition are tax free permanently?
Providing needed incentives through tax free opportunities will undoubtedly increase the sales of firearms, ammunition, and other related items which, in turn, provides wide-ranging positive impacts not just for the consumer but also for the firearms and outdoor recreation industry as well as critical conservation benefits. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s 2025 Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report, the arms and ammunition economic impact is over $91 billion dollars. The report also highlights the significant impact the firearm and ammunition industry has on wildlife conservation funding in America through its growing Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions to the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund, which exceeded $886 million in 2024 alone.
As the calendar turns to August, designated as National Shooting Sports Month, and with hunting season in sight, it is a great time to celebrate all things shooting sports and outdoor recreation, the wide-ranging positive impacts they have, and the efforts, like tax relief, that help spur their growth.
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