枪支所有者组织和枪支所有者基金会已向美国维尔京群岛政府提起诉讼，要求该领地允许非居民申请隐蔽携带手枪许可证 [1]。这是针对该地区第二修正案政策的第二起诉讼。
佛罗里达居民肖恩·戴尔·亨利是诉讼的主要申请人 [1]。亨利表示曾多次致电维尔京群岛警察部门申请许可但未获回应，称"维尔京群岛警察甚至不接电话" [1]。他计划在未来几个月内至少访问维尔京群岛两次，希望能够携带隐蔽手枪用于自卫 [1]。
枪支所有者组织主张"第二修正案不在海岸线处结束"，认为"美国人因到访领地而不失去宪法权利" [1]。
维尔京群岛现行法律对许可证申请设置了严格条件，要求申请人证明"有充分理由害怕死亡或重伤"，并需两名可信人士作证 [1]。
这并非联邦政府首次就该领地的枪支政策采取行动。美国司法部曾在2024年12月提起诉讼，指控维尔京群岛系统性否认公民的枪支所有权和携带权 [1]。维尔京群岛在2月的法庭申请中针锋相对，指控美国政府"不洁之手"，称其执法部门侵犯了公民的第1、2、4、5和14修正案权利 [1]。
Gun Owners of America and the Gun Owners Foundation have filed suit against the US Virgin Islands government, challenging its policy that effectively bars non-residents from obtaining concealed handgun carry licenses in the territory. [1]
The lawsuit centers on Florida resident Sean Dale Henry, who has repeatedly attempted to obtain a permit through the Virgin Islands Police Department without receiving a response. [1] Henry stated that the police department does not even answer his calls. [1] He plans to visit the territory at least twice over the coming months and seeks to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense. [1]
The advocacy organizations argue that constitutional rights do not end at the coastline and that Americans do not forfeit their Second Amendment protections when visiting US territories. [1] They contend that the current system violates Henry's right to bear arms. [1]
The Virgin Islands' permitting law requires applicants to demonstrate "substantial reason to fear death or serious bodily injury" and produce testimony from two credible persons. [1] This is the second federal legal challenge to the territory's firearm restrictions. [1] In December 2024, the US Department of Justice sued the Virgin Islands for systematically denying citizens their rights to own and carry firearms. [1]
The territorial government countered in February court filings by accusing the federal government of "unclean hands," alleging that law enforcement agencies have violated citizens' First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. [1]