Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay took to social media Friday to alert Florida Keys residents about sweeping changes to the state’s open carry laws after a state appellate court struck down Florida’s longstanding ban.
On Tuesday, the First District Court of Appeal ruled in Stanley Victor McDaniels v. State that the state’s open carry prohibition under Section 790.053, Florida Statutes was unconstitutional. The three-judge panel found “no historical tradition” supporting the ban and concluded that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms openly in public.
The decision vacated McDaniels’s conviction and reversed his sentence, effectively ending enforcement of Florida’s open carry ban across the First District.
Ramsay said the ruling means law enforcement agencies, including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, must now interpret the law differently. He urged residents to stay informed and exercise caution as the legal shift takes effect.
While the ruling struck down the broad prohibition, firearms remain off-limits in specific locations, including:
Courthouses
Polling places
Government meetings
Schools and school zones
Private property where owners prohibit firearms
Several law enforcement agencies around the state have already announced they will no longer enforce the open carry ban. The state may still seek a further appeal, and lawmakers could consider legislation to clarify how open carry should be regulated moving forward.
Ramsay said his office will continue monitoring developments, but emphasized that residents must understand both their rights and their responsibilities under the new legal framework.
