MIAMI -- Florida officials are appealing a federal judge's ruling striking down a Florida law that restricted doctors from talking with patients about gun ownership.

Gov. Rick Scott announced the appeal Monday. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke ruled earlier this month in the case known as "Docs vs. Glocks." Cooke agreed with physicians who contended the law violates free speech rights.

The state will take its case to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Scott says he believes the law is constitutional and will continue to defend it.

Florida's Republican-controlled Legislature adopted the Firearm Owners' Privacy Act in 2011 after an Ocala couple complained that a doctor had asked them about guns. The couple says they refused to answer and the physician refused to see them again.