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Gun Owners of America (GOA), Inc., Gun Owners Foundation, and Richard Hughes have taken a bold step to protect the Second Amendment.
They filed a lawsuit against St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl, and the State Attorney’s Office for the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida.
The plaintiffs argue that Florida Statute § 790.053(1), which restricts the open carrying of firearms, violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. They want the court to declare this law unconstitutional and prevent its enforcement.
Gun Owners of America and their co-plaintiffs (correctly) believe this statute infringes on the fundamental right to bear arms. They claim it unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners, limiting their ability to openly carry firearms for self-defense.
“Florida lawmakers claim to be pro-gun, but year after year, they’ve refused to repeal the 1987 ban on open carry, leaving Floridians in the very anti-gun company of New York, Illinois, and California where this is also prohibited,” said GOA Senior VP Erich Pratt.
“GOA has been left with no choice but to sue the state, especially since GOA’s open carry bill was blocked by the Republican legislative leadership during the 2024 session’s first week,” he continued.
“This ban has no historical basis and will surely be found unconstitutional under the Bruen precedent. We look forward to making our case and fighting for law-abiding Floridians,” Pratt concluded.
Sheriff Pearson and State Attorney Bakkedahl, named in their official capacities, are the primary defendants. The plaintiffs argue these officials are responsible for enforcing the unconstitutional law.
This lawsuit represents a significant effort to defend 2A rights in the GunShine state. It’s worth noting that while Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has voiced support for open carry, his endorsement hasn’t been enough to move the needle in Tallahassee.
Maybe this lawsuit is just what the doctor ordered to spur the state Legislature into action. Time will tell…
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