buying a long gun in Florida

No, you can only buy it when you're not there in person. Short guns you can buy when there's another person there in the third person.

Buy some flowers instead (any length)

Depends on your state law.
Odds are you can buy from an FFL in person. You cannot buy from a non-dealer unless they send it to an FFL in your state, though.


http://www.atf.gov/content/firearms-frequently-asked-questions-unli...
Q: From whom may an unlicensed person acquire a firearm under the GCA?

A person may only acquire a firearm within the person’s own State, except that he or she may purchase or otherwise acquire a rifle or shotgun, in person, at a licensee’s premises in any State, provided the sale complies with State laws applicable in the State of sale and the State where the purchaser resides. A person may borrow or rent a firearm in any State for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(3) and (5), 922(b)(3), 27 CFR 478.29 and 478.30]

You have to be a Florida resident to by any firearm in Florida, long gun or handgun, Class II and III you need a Trust.

That used to be true, about 20 years ago.
Handguns you would have to have the FFL ship to an FFL in your home state and pretty much forget about NFA weapons.

But a rifle/shotgun you can buy in any state as long as it's legal to own in both the state your buying it in as well as your home state and you can carry it out of the store you bought it in. You don't have to ship to an FFL in your own state. You must buy from an FFL, cannot buy from a person.

Looking at the Florida's Department of Law Enforcement pages, you can write them to make sure:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/a6ab812a-94c0-46fd-914b-...


and here's a FL FFL's page about this very topic:
http://www.chipleypawnshop.com/firearmsales/