I’m not a big fan of HOAs as a general thing, and for a lot of reasons. Some are good, some aren’t, and they’re really attractive to the petty tyrants running around this country. To find out that a Florida HOA decided to ban guns in common areas didn’t actually surprise me, but it did bother me. That’s taking things way too far.
And since this was in Florida, where the attorney general is a big fan of gun rights and the state’s preemption law, you just had to know something was going to happen.
The HOA might try it, but they were going to get slapped down for it.
It seems, though, that the HOA realized they weren’t going to win this fight.
The firearm ban previously enforced in common areas in Tradition is no longer in effect, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
In a Wednesday post on X, Uthmeier wrote, “Tradition Community Association agreed to stop enforcing its unlawful firearm ban in common areas.”
Tradition Community Association agreed to stop enforcing its unlawful firearm ban in common areas. We are working with the Association to ensure this policy change is permanent and complies with FL law.
For others who’ve reached out about their HOAs, don’t worry, we hear you. https://t.co/X031UjnGCf
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) June 4, 2026
He also told Florida residents who contacted him about their HOAs trying to enforce firearm bans that he is aware of the issue.
So, that’s the good news.
Yes, it’s troubling that it happened, and it’s troubling that it seems it’s enough of a thing in the Sunshine State for Uthmeier to be aware of other cases, but again, it’s not surprising. HOAs may be good for making sure the neighborhood looks nice and that people aren’t making things difficult with the neighbors by having wild parties every weekend or whatever, but like any other group you hand power to, it’s going to be attractive to those who want to wield power–the very people who should never have it 99 times out of 100.
That includes those who think lawful gun owners are the problem. That’s what happened here. They decided that HOA members couldn’t use the common areas they help pay the upkeep on if they exercised a basic constitutionally protected right. They had power and decided their political whims should be made manifest.
The problem for them is that Uthmeier and others weren’t going to let them just do whatever they wanted.
It’s bad enough when the HOA is trying to tell you which shade of white is acceptable for your house’s trim. It’s another when they tell you that you can’t exercise your right to keep and bear arms in your neighborhood.
This one has backed down. Now, maybe Uthmeier can turn his attention to the rest and smack them down so that this kind of foolishness goes away for good.
Honestly, how common is this crap, anyway? How are there more doing this kind of tinpot dictator crap in neighborhoods, and not just in Florida, but elsewhere?
Yet another reason to buy a house in the country where the next neighbor may not even share your telephone prefix.
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