guns gun ownership free speech

Judge Blocks Florida Law Restricting Gun Questions From Doctors

Psychiatric News Alert | September 15, 2011

A federal judge has blocked enforcement of the Florida law that restricts what physicians can say or ask about guns to their patients. The law was passed earlier this year by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed into law June 2 by GOP Gov. Rick Scott. The governor, the National Rifle Association, and other supporters contended it was a violation of privacy and possibly the Second Amendment for physicians to question patients about the presence of guns in their home.

District Judge Marcia Cooke ruled that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s free-speech guarantees and does not trample gun rights. In her ruling, Cooke said she found very little evidence of widespread harassment or discrimination of gun owners by physicians. Republican Sen. Greg Evers, who was the chief Senate sponsor said he was disappointed in the ruling and expected an appeal would be filed.

In a resolution passed at its June meeting, the AMA has expressed opposition to the law. Read more about this controversial law in Psychiatric News at http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/46/14/10.3.full.

(Image: Shutterstock)