Gov. Scott to appeal 'Docs vs. Glocks'

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 31 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Monday he plans to appeal the court ruling against the 2011 state law prohibiting doctors from asking patients if they own a gun.

Scott said the state will appeal the ruling striking down the National Rifle Association-backed law preventing doctors from legally asking about a patient's guns to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.

"This law was carefully crafted to respect the First Amendment while ensuring a patient's constitutional right to own or possess a firearm without discrimination," Scott said in a statement. "I signed this legislation into law because I believe it is constitutional, and I will continue to defend it."

A Miami federal judge ruled in the early July case, nicknamed "Docs vs. Glocks," the law violated the doctor's First Amendment rights. The law initially called for a $5 million fine for doctors who violated it, but the fine was later removed.