HomeCrimeUPDATED: Sheriff Chad Scott announces no open carry arrests in Alachua County, but “we urge all citizens to follow the current law out of respect for the judicial process”

UPDATED: Sheriff Chad Scott announces no open carry arrests in Alachua County, but “we urge all citizens to follow the current law out of respect for the judicial process”

September 11, 2025

Staff report

Updated at 5:30 p.m. after ASO updated its post

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – After announcing earlier that deputies would continue to arrest people for openly carrying firearms, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) has now reversed course and announced that nobody will be arrested for the open carrying of firearms if that is the “only crime they have committed.”

Today, 8th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brian Kramer issued a memo to all law enforcement agencies in the judicial circuit, stating that the decision of the 1st DCA — that Florida’s open carry ban is unconstitutional — is effective immediately. Kramer clarified that although the decision has a procedural hold until the time for rehearing expires, he believes the Attorney General will not appeal the decision: “Therefore, the unconstitutionality of this statute will not change… Because of the McDaniels decision, open carry alone cannot be the basis for reasonable suspicion for a stop or probable cause for a search or an arrest.”

ASO added this paragraph to its release, stating that it was added “to clarify any misunderstandings related to our release”: “𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟’𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬.”

Other agencies have posted guidelines on the open carrying of firearms, reminding citizens that adults who can legally possess a firearm can now carry it openly in most public places. Businesses, stores, and private property owners may prohibit open or concealed carry of firearms on their property, and the restricted areas are the same as those for concealed carry.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office’s original statement is below. The bolded paragraph above has now been added, and the first sentence in the second-to-last paragraph has been deleted:

“On September 10th, a court opinion was issued regarding the open carrying of firearms in Florida. I want to emphasize that this opinion is not final until the disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.

“Therefore, as of today, the status of the law concerning open carry of firearms is the same as it was yesterday — there has been no change.

“Florida’s firearm laws are complex and involve multiple statutes that govern when, where, and how a person may legally possess a firearm. These laws balance the rights of lawful gun owners under the Second Amendment with the responsibility to ensure public safety. Because of that complexity, every situation involving the possession or carrying of a firearm must be viewed carefully and considered on a case-by-case basis.

“The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is actively reviewing the recent court opinion in coordination with our legal advisors. Should there be any change in the law, we will promptly update our policies and practices to remain in full compliance with the law and provide clear guidance to the public.

“Until then, our deputies will continue to enforce the law as it currently stands. I strongly encourage all firearm owners to stay informed, practice safe and responsible ownership, and ensure they understand the legal requirements regarding concealed carry, storage, and transportation of firearms.

“The mission of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is to protect both the rights and the safety of everyone who lives in, works in, or visits our community. We will continue to uphold that mission with professionalism, transparency, and fairness.”

  • Chad thinks he is in control. Chad only wants LEO’s to openly carry. Chad only leans on case law when case law promotes his political ideology. Chad is not the courts. Chad will be proven wrong.

      • That’s because with the DA sending out this memorandum the two prongs test for qualified immunity no longer exists for him (the arresting officer must not have reason to believe his actions violated a person’s rights and there must be existing case law demonstrating that the arrest was unconstitutional) With this memorandum from the District Attorney they now have been advised that any arrest under the open carry law is unconstitutional and that there is existing case law on the subject.
        So if he continued to arrest people for open carry its not just the taxpayers who would foot the bill for any lawsuits but his own personal assets are open to seizure to pay for any judgments.

  • Chad Scott should be removed from office.

    He took an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Florida, not subvert them by pandering to liberals.

  • The last time Chad Scott made a deliberate decision and acted on it by falsifying his timesheet and lying he got fired.

  • So, Chad caved under the pressure? Or did he just come to his senses? We’ll see how this goes. In the meantime, I might go fishing with my Ruger American strapped to my side. I do recognize the law and abide by it. I encourage anyone that thinks I should not do this to reply. I enjoy discourse and educating people.

    • So, the Ruger is because you go fishing behind a crack house or in your tub?

      I follow the law also and don’t wear guns in public. WTF is the point besides making all those who see you want to get away from you.

      BTW, Americans and Floridians overwhelmingly oppose these laws and want more gun control, so we’ll eventually clean up this mess.

    • You could have always been doing that. It was always legal in FL to open carry on your way to, or returning from hunting or fishing.
      As far as open carry in general is concerned, I’ve never understood the fascination. Why ruin the element of surprise? That’s the great thing about concealed carry. I don’t want anyone to know I’m carrying. But god forbid there is a threat to myself or my family, I have the confidence to be able to neutralize said threat. I guess it’s like tattoos. Yea I got ’em. But they’re strategically placed. For me. I don’t need to flaunt them and say “Hey look at me! Look what I can do!”

  • He likely came to the realization this new gig has a pretty good paycheck; no sense letting politics take that away.

  • I really don’t understand cops who are anti-2nd Amendment rights. Especially those in leadership. What is the motivation? Honest question. The bad guys don’t follow the law anyway. What good does it do to disarm the law abiding? Unless your goal is tyranny and rendering your law abiding citizens helpless in the face of crime. I don’t get it. Really I don’t. We law abiding gun owners are just not a threat to the police or anyone. Help me make it make sense…

  • Move to Bradford or Clay counties. Sheriffs here promote responsible gun ownership and carry.
    No arrest for open carry. BTW, State Attorney General said he would not oppose the courts ruling.
    Appears it will be the law of Florida.

  • Likely those who choose to open carry become primary first targets of any would be assailant. While they may be going in somewhat prepared to inflict maximum damage, those going about their everyday business may be caught off guard and if open carrying, will likely become 1st targets to minimize opposition.

    I’ll stick with my concealed carry.

  • I’m sticking with concealed. Just feeling a little better about the rare occasion when I’m at the store and need to reach for something on the top shelf and gun might be briefly visible. Yes I’m vertically challenged.

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