Florida attorney general's big gun announcement stuns observers: 'This is a mistake'

Florida's state attorney general announced Monday that law enforcement should stop arresting or prosecuting people who openly carry firearms in public, while Democrats in the state argue this could further harm tourism.

Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a legal interpretation, "citing a state appeals court ruling last week that found a decades-old ban to be unconstitutional," the New York Times reports.

“Open carry is the law of the state,” he wrote Monday via X.

He issued the update, sharing a copy of the "guidance memorandum" that he issued to sheriffs, police chiefs and state attorneys about the ruling last Wednesday, after a three-judge panel of the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee found that the state's open carry ban violated the Second Amendment, The Times reports. The open carry ban has been in effect since 1987.

In the United States, California, Connecticut and Illinois are now the only remaining states that still ban open carry.

Democrats warned the decision, which was not decided by lawmakers, could upend safety.

“Historically, the Florida Sheriffs Association, many departments across the state and leaders on both sides of the aisle have agreed: Open carry will make Floridians less safe,” said Nikki Fried, the chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, in a statement. “The impact of this decision will have negative long-term effects on our communities and further erode Floridians’ trust in one another.”

Reactions grew online in the wake of the Sunshine State change.

"As a lawful gun owner in the state of Florida, I think this is a mistake. Florida depends on tourism, and people open carrying everywhere is not going to increase tourism," one user wrote on X.

"No thanks to the Florida GOP who have refused to do anything pro gun after they screwed gun owners at trumps request and Rick Scott was all to happy to oblige," another user wrote on X.

"Florida, the Gunshine state. If you plan to visit, prepare to see plenty of bubbas armed who, along with Stand Your Ground law, won’t hesitate to use. Mindful of road rage, folks," another quipped on X.

"So after 'martyr' charlie kirk is murdered by a gun. His supporters lash out and claim we’re in a civil war. And now, Florida is open carry," an X user wrote.