Jacob Ogles
Gov. Ron DeSantis is praising a court ruling tossing open carry restrictions in Florida.
“This decision aligns state policy with my long-held position and with the vast majority of states throughout the union,” DeSantis posted on X. “Ultimately, the court correctly ruled that the text of the Second Amendment — ‘to keep and bear arms’ — says what it means and means what it says.”
He commented on the ruling shortly after Attorney General James Uthmeier, whom DeSantis appointed to his statewide office earlier this year, made clear his office won’t appeal the ruling.
“Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeals just ruled that Florida’s open carry ban is no longer constitutionally enforceable statewide. Our office fully supports the Court’s decision,” Uthmeier posted. “This is a big win for the Second Amendment rights of Floridians. As we’ve all witnessed over the last few days, our God-given right to self-defense is indispensable.”
That appeared to reference a high-profile killing of a Ukrainian woman by knife attack on a bus in North Carolina.
The decision by the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal involved a challenge by Pensacola political activist Stan McDaniels, who was arrested in 2022 waving the U.S. Constitution while having a holstered gun visible. McDaniels in court pushed for Judges to visit the constitutionality of Florida’s prohibition on open carry. While a lower court convicted him, a three-Judge panel at the appellate ruling accepted his argument.
Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for the Attorney General, said the Office will not seek a rehearing at the appellate court or call for a review by the Florida Supreme Court.
Despite DeSantis’ position, legislative leaders have resisted taking on the policy directly. Senate President Ben Albritton made clear as early as November that his chamber would not consider open carry. He cited opposition from law enforcement groups like the Florida Sheriffs Association. Former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo offered a similar position as she nixed open carry discussions from the two prior years.
Earlier this year, Rep. Monique Miller, a Brevard Republican, promised to filed an open carry bill in the House, but was urged against doing so by House leadership as the legislation had no path forward without a Senate companion. She ultimately did not file a bill.
