Since Thursday, October 1st, firing a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school during school hours or a school-sanctioned activity is a second-degree felony in Florida, with exceptions for lawful defense and a “lawful purpose.” On September 29th, according to reports, gun-rights plaintiffs sued Jacksonville over gun bans at city-owned venues like EverBank Stadium. Also this week: DOJ won’t appeal the Texas suppressor ruling, but Florida isn’t covered, and a federal judge blocked Connecticut’s “Glock ban.”
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Saturday Report
Pour the coffee and put your feet up for a minute. Florida had a real week, including a city getting dragged into court and a new law that kicked in Thursday.
FLORIDA: GUN OWNERS TOOK JACKSONVILLE TO COURT
On Tuesday, September 29th, a lawsuit filed by gun-rights plaintiffs went after the City of Jacksonville, Mayor Donna Deegan and Sheriff T.K. Waters in Duval County circuit court, according to reports. The suit targets gun bans at city-owned venues: EverBank Stadium, the Moran Theater, the Florida Theatre and the Fairgrounds.
Here’s the thing. Florida’s preemption law already settled this. Tallahassee sets the gun rules in this state, not city hall. But according to the plaintiffs, concealed carriers were told to disarm or were flat-out turned away at the door anyway.
The suit was just filed, so no judge has ruled yet. But if a city as big as Jacksonville can slap up a “no guns” sign and shrug at state law, every city hall from Pensacola to Key West is taking notes. This one matters well beyond Duval County.
New law in effect since Thursday, October 1
Firing a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school during school hours or a school-sanctioned activity is now a second-degree felony. There are exceptions for lawful defense of yourself or others and for a “lawful purpose,” and discharge on private property by the owner or an invited guest is exempt. Anyone arrested is held until first appearance. This covers firing a gun, not carrying one, but know it if you live or shoot near a school.
Florida voting dates
Monday, October 5: books close. That’s your registration deadline.
Saturday, October 24 to Saturday, October 31: early voting statewide, and some counties add more days.
Tuesday, November 3: Election Day.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THIS WEEK
DOJ won’t appeal the suppressor ruling. Solicitor General D. John Sauer told Congress in a letter that went public Thursday that the Justice Department won’t appeal the Texas case on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs. With the NFA tax at $0, that court ruled the registration and transfer rules go beyond Congress’s taxing power. Before you celebrate too hard: the order covers only the plaintiffs, their members and customers, and 15 plaintiff states. Florida isn’t one of them. It’s still getting sorted out, too: the plaintiff states have asked the court to clarify how far the order reaches, and ATF hasn’t issued transfer guidance yet.
The Supreme Court’s long conference. On Monday the justices sat down with 57 firearms cases on the list, by one legal center’s count. So far they haven’t granted or denied a single one. The first full orders list is expected Monday, and the AR-15 ban cases already on the docket are set for argument December 2nd.
Connecticut’s “Glock ban” got blocked. Hours before it was set to take effect October 1st, a federal judge put Connecticut’s ban on so-called convertible pistols on ice, finding the challengers are likely to win on the Second Amendment. It’s a preliminary ruling and it’s Connecticut only, but blue states have been lining up to copy that ban, and now they’ve got a problem.
And that’s your week. A big city testing Florida’s preemption law, a new felony on the books, and a Supreme Court about to tip its hand.
If this rundown was worth your time, chip in $5 and help Florida Gun Owners keep watching city halls and Tallahassee for you.
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For Freedom,
Rob Knisley
Florida Gun Owners
P.S. Books close Monday. If anybody in your house, your church or your hunting group isn’t registered, today’s the day to fix it. And keep an eye on your inbox, because the Supreme Court’s orders are expected Monday too.