SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) 鈥� Gun Owners of America and Gun Owners Foundation are suing the government of the and its police commissioner as a fight over the Second Amendment deepens.
The nonprofits are asking a federal judge to allow nonresidents to apply for and be issued licenses to carry concealed handguns in the U.S. territory.
The lawsuit filed this week asserted that Florida resident Sean Dale Henry, a member of Gun Owners of America and supporter of Gun Owners Foundation, called the U.S. Virgin Islands鈥� police department multiple times to apply for such a license.
鈥淗enry has been unable to get the USVI police to so much as pick up the telephone,鈥� the lawsuit states. 鈥淭he fact that the USVI police do not answer their phone makes (Henry鈥檚) need to keep and bear arms for his own self-defense all the more vital.鈥�
A spokesperson for the U.S. territory鈥檚 government did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
The lawsuit filed Monday notes that Henry plans to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands at least twice in upcoming months and seeks to bring a concealed gun .
鈥淭he Second Amendment doesn鈥檛 end at the shoreline,鈥� Luis Valdes, the U.S. Virgin Islands鈥� outreach director for Gun Owners of America, said in a statement. 鈥淎mericans don鈥檛 lose their constitutional rights simply because they travel to a U.S. territory.鈥�
It is the second time the U.S. Virgin Islands鈥� government and its police commissioner are sued over the Second Amendment.
In December, the U.S. Justice Department , accusing it of obstructing and systematically denying American citizens the right to possess and carry guns. It cited local laws including that applicants must demonstrate 鈥済ood reason to fear death or great injury to his person or property,鈥� and have 鈥渢wo credible persons鈥� vouch for their need of a firearm.
At the time, the U.S. Virgin Islands鈥� government said it was 鈥渃ommitted to protecting constitutional rights while maintaining public safety.鈥�
In a February court filing, the U.S. Virgin Islands accused the U.S. government of coming to court 鈥渨ith unclean hands” and of employing hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers it accused of depriving people of their 鈥渞ights, privileges and immunities secured and protected by the 1st, 2nd, 4th , 5th and 14th amendments.鈥�
鈥淭he United States of America cannot come to the court with unclean hands and seek to enjoin others while engaging in such blatant, violative, and abusive patterns and practices itself,鈥� the filing read.
That case is still making its way through court.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
