Federal Judge Marcia Cooke blocked yesterday the implementation of Sen. Greg Evers’ new law (Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act) restricting the rights of doctors to obtain information form their patients about firearms and ammunition.
The law, which was supported by the NRA, was to maintaining patients’ privacy rights regarding firearm ownership within the context of the doctor-patient relationship. However, the law curtails practitioners’ ability to inquire about whether patients own firearms and burdens their ability to deliver a firearm safety message to patients, under certain circumstances. The Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act restricts practitioners’ First Amendment rights of free speech.
The judge believed the injunction was in order because the First Amendment. Read order
“No one should be surprised that a federal court struck down a law that interferes with the right of doctors to obtain information from their patients,” saidHoward Simon of the ACLU of Florida said about the ruling. “The right of doctors to ask routine questions about dangers in the home is essential and can provide medical professionals with information they need to help their patients protect the safety and lives of children.â€