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Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 790.31 — Armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon’s breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Chapter 790: Weapons and Firearms, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 790.31

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 790.31Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes
(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Armor-piercing bullet” means any bullet which has a steel inner core or core of equivalent hardness and a truncated cone and which is designed for use in a handgun as an armor-piercing or metal-piercing bullet.(b) “Exploding bullet” means any bullet that can be fired from any firearm, if such bullet is designed or altered so as to detonate or forcibly break up through the use of an explosive or deflagrant contained wholly or partially within or attached to such bullet. The term does not include any bullet designed to expand or break up through the mechanical forces of impact alone or any signaling device or pest control device not designed to impact on any target.(c) “Dragon’s breath shotgun shell” means any shotgun shell that contains exothermic pyrophoric misch metal as the projectile and that is designed for the sole purpose of throwing or spewing a flame or fireball to simulate a flamethrower.(d) “Bolo shell” means any shell that can be fired in a firearm and that expels as projectiles two or more metal balls connected by solid metal wire.(e) “Flechette shell” means any shell that can be fired in a firearm and that expels two or more pieces of fin-stabilized solid metal wire or two or more solid dart-type projectiles. (2)(a) Any person who manufactures, sells, offers for sale, or delivers any armor-piercing bullet or exploding bullet, or dragon’s breath shotgun shell, bolo shell, or flechette shell is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.(b) Any person who possesses an armor-piercing bullet or exploding bullet with knowledge of its armor-piercing or exploding capabilities loaded in a handgun, or who possesses a dragon’s breath shotgun shell, bolo shell, or flechette shell with knowledge of its capabilities loaded in a firearm, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.(c) Any person who possesses with intent to use an armor-piercing bullet or exploding bullet or dragon’s breath shotgun shell, bolo shell, or flechette shell to assist in the commission of a criminal act is guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (3) This section does not apply to:(a) The possession of any item described in subsection (1) by any law enforcement officer, when possessed in connection with the performance of his or her duty as a law enforcement officer, or law enforcement agency.(b) The manufacture of items described in subsection (1) exclusively for sale or delivery to law enforcement agencies.(c) The sale or delivery of items described in subsection (1) to law enforcement agencies.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon’s breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

It depends on the circumstances: armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon’s breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited ranges from a Felony of the Third Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 790.31.

Manufacture, sale, offer for sale, or delivery of prohibited ammunition: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 790.31(2)(a)) · Possession of prohibited ammunition loaded in a firearm with knowledge: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 790.31(2)(b)) · Possession with intent to use in commission of a criminal act: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 790.31(2)(c))

Which Florida statute covers armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon’s breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited?

Armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon’s breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited is governed by Fla. Stat. § 790.31 (Armor-piercing or exploding ammunition or dragon’s breath shotgun shells, bolo shells, or flechette shells prohibited).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.