Florida criminal charge
Furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited in Florida
Furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 790.17. Its classification is not fixed: Florida assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Fla. Stat. § 790.17.
What is the penalty for furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Furnishing weapon to minor or person of unsound mind — A person sells, hires, barters, lends, transfers, or gives a minor under 18 a dirk, electric weapon or device, or other weapon (other than an ordinary pocketknife) without parental/guardian permission, or gives such a weapon to a person of unsound mind.; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Furnishing weapon to minor or person of unsound mind — A person sells, hires, barters, lends, transfers, or gives a minor under 18 a dirk, electric weapon or device, or other weapon (other than an ordinary pocketknife) without parental/guardian permission, or gives such a weapon to a person of unsound mind.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Selling or transferring a firearm to a minor — A person knowingly or willfully sells or transfers a firearm to a minor under 18, without qualifying parental/guardian-permitted ownership transfer.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Selling or transferring a firearm to a minor — A person knowingly or willfully sells or transfers a firearm to a minor under 18, without qualifying parental/guardian-permitted ownership transfer.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).
How is furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnishing weapon to minor or person of unsound mind | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | A person sells, hires, barters, lends, transfers, or gives a minor under 18 a dirk, electric weapon or device, or other weapon (other than an ordinary pocketknife) without parental/guardian permission, or gives such a weapon to a person of unsound mind. | Fla. Stat. § 790.17(1) |
| Selling or transferring a firearm to a minor | Felony of the Third Degree | A person knowingly or willfully sells or transfers a firearm to a minor under 18, without qualifying parental/guardian-permitted ownership transfer. | Fla. Stat. § 790.17(2)(a) |
Common questions about furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited in Florida
Is furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Felony of the Third Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 790.17.
Furnishing weapon to minor or person of unsound mind: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 790.17(1)) · Selling or transferring a firearm to a minor: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 790.17(2)(a))
What are the penalties for furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited in Florida?
Penalties for furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree up to a Felony of the Third Degree — with the ranges set by Fla. Stat. § 775.082; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Florida statute covers furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited?
Furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited is governed by Fla. Stat. § 790.17 (Furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.