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Gun Owners of America Suits U.S. Virgin Islands Over Nonresident Firearm Restrictions
7/24/2026, 3:24:15 AM
Lawsuit Over Nonresident Gun Rights
Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation filed a federal lawsuit in July 2026 challenging the U.S. Virgin Islands’ (USVI) refusal to permit nonresidents to obtain concealed-carry licenses. The complaint names Florida resident Sean Dale Henry, a GOA member, as a plaintiff who has been unable to contact the USVI police department to apply for a license. citizens from exercising the Second Amendment while in the islands.
Legal Background and Prior Litigation
The suit follows a December 2025 lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department, which accused the USVI of systematically denying American citizens the right to possess and carry firearms. That case remains pending. GOA’s current filing contends that, after the Supreme Court’s *Bruen* decision recognizing a broad right to public carry, the USVI repealed a statute that previously allowed limited reciprocity for out-of-state handgun licenses. As of 2022, the territory does not recognize any state or territorial handgun licenses and also prohibits open carry.
Territorial Licensing Requirements
A hunting license permits only rifles or shotguns and does not authorize public carry of handguns. GOA characterizes the complete prohibition on nonresident handguns as “invalid” under the *Heller* decision.
Official Positions
In a February filing, the territory accused the United States of appearing “with unclean hands,” alleging that federal law-enforcement practices violate multiple constitutional amendments. No comment was immediately available from the USVI police commissioner.
Potential Implications
If the court grants GOA’s request, nonresident Americans could apply for concealed-carry licenses in the USVI, potentially altering the territory’s public-safety framework. Conversely, a ruling against GOA would reaffirm the USVI’s authority to restrict firearm possession based on residency criteria, maintaining the status quo for nonresident visitors. The case adds another layer to the ongoing national debate over the geographic reach of the Second Amendment.
