I've been asked several times in the last few months whether a visitor from another country (England and Canada usually) can rent a firearm at a gun range. The answer is an absolute "no" -- unless they have a valid hunting license, or one of the other more involved exceptions for consular personnel, or acceptable proof of admission to the US for a sport shooting event. Unless so excepted, these foreign visitors are "prohibited persons" under the law -- and you can't loan, sell, or rent a firearm or ammo to them -- unless -- they fall into one of those narrow exceptions.
Is there a legal way around it?
Sure!
All you need to do is be authorized to issue a temporary hunting license to them. The license can be from ANY state -- not just Florida. So -- if you can get authority to issue a Connecticut license -- it's perfectly fine in allowing use in Florida. Silly -- but that's what the federal law allows. Again -- that's for temporary use.
I know ATF hasn't been heavy on enforcing this -- but if they did -- kiss your FFL goodbye, and hire me quick for the federal felony. So . . . I suggest you look into becoming a distributor of hunting licenses from other states if you run a range, or even if you feel like lending your British buddy your firearm at your home firing range. Like I said -- I think Connecticut allows temporaries without the hunter/safety course. You'll have to check that on your own. This is just the lowdown on the issue.
Of course, if you don't keep records on who you lend to on premises -- nobody will likely ever know (unless they get serious on this stuff and send in a confidential informant -- ATF's usual method of getting the dirt on people). But -- my philosophy is -- why take the risk?
Hope that helps
jhg
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