A Florida group has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against an Inverness gun shop owner who declared his store a Muslim-free zone. CAIR Florida, which is the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida, made the announcement on its blog Wednesday.
The suit demands an injunction against Florida Gun Supply prohibiting it from discriminating against Muslims and others on the basis of religion. The suit also asks for attorney fees and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. “American Muslims have a right to browse and purchase guns, take classes on gun safety and shoot guns at a range without having to be profiled and discriminated,” said Hassan Shibly, Chief Executive Director of CAIR Florida.
“Such discrimination is not only illegal, it is bad for our country and makes us less safe and less free,” Shibly said. The CAIR blog said that the policy of Florida Gun Supply owner Andy Hallinan singled out followers of an entire religion. The organization also said the policy is a violation of federal law.
Hallinan had declared his store a “Muslim-free Zone,” in a politically controversial video posted on his business Facebook page. The post was met with a mix of support and strong criticism. “He made it very clear. Andy made it very clear it was a Muslim-free zone and he was denying services to Muslim-Americans. And that’s illegal,” CAIR attorney Katherine Heffner said.
The gun store’s attorney spoke from his office in Michigan. Robert Muise believes the lawsuit is a publicity stunt and that there is no evidence of discrimination. “Andy Hallinan and the Florida Gun Supply have an obligation to their customers, employees and to the general public to not train or equip terrorists. Period,” Muise said.
In the video, Hallinan sits in front of a back-drop of a Confederate flag and talks about Southern heritage, racism and the Chattanooga shootings. He declared his store a Muslim-free zone and said it was in response to the recent shooting in Chattanooga, TN. “I will not arm and train those who wish to do harm to my fellow patriots,” Hallinan said in the video.