The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office will follow a recent court ruling that struck down Florida’s ban on openly carrying firearms, Sheriff Eric Aden announced in a statement following the Sept. 10 decision.

• The First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee declared Section 790.053, Florida Statutes, unconstitutional on Sept. 10, 2025. The decision is not yet final and will become final if no appeal is filed within 30 days.

“OCSO deputies were informed of the court decision and given guidance on how to handle such circumstances according to our policy and Florida law,” Aden said in his statement. “Deputies will undergo additional training to ensure proper application of the law and also to help them educate the public on the Do’s and Don’ts regarding statutory restrictions related to open carry laws.”

The three-judge panel found the open carry ban incompatible with the nation’s “historical tradition of firearm regulation.” Judge Stephanie Ray wrote in the 20-page opinion that “no historical tradition supports Florida’s open carry ban” and that “history confirms that the right to bear arms in public necessarily includes the right to do so openly.”

Aden outlined several key points for residents to understand about the potential changes:

• Do check local ordinances in your county or municipality, as some places may have additional restrictions.
• Don’t openly carry in sensitive or restricted areas where law or regulation still forbids it, including courthouses, schools and some government buildings.
• Do know that private property owners still have the right to prohibit both open and concealed carry on their premises.
• Don’t display or brandish a firearm in a reckless or threatening manner.

The sheriff emphasized that his office fully supports constitutional and Second Amendment rights while maintaining public safety priorities. He warned that deputies may be called by citizens unaware of the change to respond to reports of armed persons.

“If deputies are called by citizens unaware of this change, they will respond as if to an armed-person call,” Aden said. “We ask for your cooperation and understanding as deputies work to verify law circumstances.”

The ruling came in a challenge filed by Stanley Victor McDaniels, who was convicted of openly carrying a gun on July 4, 2022, in Pensacola. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office “fully supports the Court’s decision” and called it “a big win for the Second Amendment rights of Floridians.”

• Several law enforcement agencies across Florida have already stopped enforcing the open carry ban following the ruling, including the Brevard County and Hillsborough County sheriff’s offices, according to the Florida Phoenix.

Aden concluded his statement by emphasizing community cooperation during the transition period.

“Our priority is both safety and constitutional rights,” he said. “By working together with patience, respect, and understanding we can ensure this transition strengthens both public safety and the freedoms we all value.”