A Florida gun range owner has declared a ‘Muslim-free zone’ 

Abby Ohlheiser

Washington Post

In a YouTube video posted over the weekend, Andy Hallinan stands in front of a Confederate flag and declares his Florida gun range a “Muslim-free zone.” In doing so, Hallinan, who said his decision was inspired by the Chattanooga shootings, joins another American gun range owner with a similar policy.

“I will not arm and train those who wish to do harm to my fellow patriots,” Hallinan says in the video explaining his new policy. He also says he will open his gun range, Florida Gun Supply, in Inverness, Fla., to the public at no cost and offer free concealed carry classes. “Get armed, get trained and carry daily,” he tells his intended audience, whom he repeatedly refers to as “patriots.”

“We are in battle, patriots,” Hallinan says, with enemies he defines as “Islamic extremism,” and what he characterizes as out-of-control “political correctness.”

“If we can’t call evil evil,” Hallinan says, “then we can’t really defeat our enemies.”

The video also makes repeated references to recent attention in the media — and by the U.S. government — to police-involved shootings.

Hallinan is following in the footsteps of Jan Morgan, the owner of Gun Cave Shooting in Hot Springs, Ark. Morgan gained widespread attention for her policy barring Muslims from shooting there. Morgan told The Washington Post that she disagrees with those who say her policy violates the public accommodation provision of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.

[Let’s check in with the ‘Muslim-free’ gun range in Arkansas]

Morgan said that because she runs her range as a private club with dues-paying members, she believes her decision to exclude Muslims is protected by a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives policy that gives range owners the discretion to turn away potential customers, who, the owners believe, pose a threat to the safety of others.

In April, the Department of Justice said it was monitoring the range, but it has no plans to investigate Morgan’s business.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has asked Justice to launch an investigation into Florida Gun Supply in the wake of Hallinan’s announcement.

“These bigoted declarations are no different than the ‘whites only’ signs posted in businesses during a period of our nation’s history that we had hoped was over,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

A spokesman for Justice said the department will review the request from CAIR when it is received.

Alan: The "Muslim-Free Zone" is flanked by the "Gay-Free Zone" and the "Black-Free Zone." 

The "Jew-Free Zone" is still under construction.