Gun Restrictions in Port St. Lucie

Gun restrictions in the shared spaces of the Traditional Community Association in Port St. Lucie, Florida, will not be enforced by local police, according to recent reports.

The restrictions cover various public areas, including City Hall, heritage plaza, gazebos, splash pads, dog parks, and several parks and trails within the community. This also means residents cannot bring firearms into these areas for self-defense, regardless of whether they have a concealed carry permit.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department has stated that they do not enforce the community’s regulations. They emphasize that their duty is to uphold Florida law, not private HOA guidelines.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department enforces Florida law, not private HOA policies or community association rules. PSLPD fully supports the constitutional rights of all law-abiding citizens, including those protected by the Second Amendment. Responsible firearm ownership continues to be a right protected by both the U.S. Constitution and Florida law, and our employees will continue to uphold and protect these rights while enforcing the law fairly and impartially.

A resident, Taylor Welsh, expressed that the ban seemed to take many people by surprise. “As gun owners ourselves, we felt it was very destructive to do something like this behind everyone’s back because it seemed like no one had given us advance notice,” she remarked.

She noted, “This is a safe community, but we’re seeing an increase in incidents around here. Personally, I would feel better if we were still allowed to roam the parks and trails.”

City Councilman Anthony Bona criticized the ban, claiming it infringes on his Second Amendment rights and indicating his intention to challenge it.