Gun-rights group challenges ban on open-carry in Florida

(The Center Square) - Gun Owners of America and the Gun Owners Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit in Florida that challenges the state's ban on open carry of firearms.

"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 Erich Pratt, Gun Owners of America's senior vice president.

"Governor Ron DeSantis has previously expressed support for open carry, but unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the Legislature in Tallahassee has made quite clear they have no intention of repealing this ban," Gun Owners of America, a non-profit pro-Second Amendment lobbyist group based in California, said in a press release about the lawsuit.

In Florida, the open-carry is only allowed as a self-defense chemical spray or a non-lethal stun gun.

The ACLU has opposed open-carry laws.

"Open carry can disrupt the public square through the intimidating display of lethal weapons," Florida ACLU said in 2021. "For example, in 2020, armed protesters forced the suspension of the activities of democratically-elected state legislatures in Michigan and Oregon."

The ACLU didn't respond to an email seeking comment.

In February 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that allowed Florida residents to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit.