Florida physician groups have successfully blocked a state law passed earlier this year which was meant to restrict their discussion of gun safety with patients.
On Wednesday, Republican appointed US District Judge Marcia ruled that the law violated the U.S. Constitution's free speech guarantees by not allowing an open doctor-patient relationship. She disagreed with supporters like Governor Scott and the National Rifle Association who claimed that that counseling patients about the safe use of firearms especially with respect to children would somehow interfere with the individual's right to possess firearms.
The Federal lawsuit was brought by the Florida chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians as well as individual physicians.
Had this gun-gag law gone into affect, physicians who recorded information about gun ownership that was later determined not to be “relevant” or “unnecessarily harassing" could have been fined or, worse, risk losing their medical licensure.
Physicians delighted with the ruling hope that the ability to discuss all kinds of home safety issues with patients will ultimately prevent accidents and save lives.
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