Phil Ammann
After six years, health care providers scored a major victory Monday when Florida officials declined to appeal a federal ruling striking down the so-called “docs versus Glocks” law.
In 2011, Florida lawmakers passed a bill which prevents doctors from asking patients about guns. Since then, a federal court invalidated several parts of the law.
The National Rifle Association supported “docs versus Glocks,” which put several restrictions on doctors and other health care professionals.
According to Lobby Tools, the bill in part prevented physicians from entering gun ownership into medical records, especially if the info was not “relevant” to medical care or safety to patients or other people. The law also forced doctors to refrain from asking about gun ownership — of both patients or family members — unless there was a “good faith” belief the information was pertinent to medical care or safety.
Doctors could not “discriminate” or “harass” patients for owning firearms.
In a 90-page decision February, the full appellate court — two majority opinions from different judges as well as a dissent — struck down the law.
Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office confirmed to reporters that there will be no appeal filed before the deadline lapsed last month.
