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JACKSONVILLE, FL — A Jacksonville city councilman has alleged that private security personnel under the city’s direction maintained an unauthorized registry of citizens legally carrying concealed firearms into municipal buildings, potentially violating Florida law and the U.S. Constitution.
Councilman Nick Howland (R-At Large, Group 3) disclosed that private security stationed at City Hall and the Yates Building—the latter housing the Tax Collector and Property Appraiser’s Offices—had allegedly kept written records of individuals who entered with lawfully concealed firearms. According to Howland, this documentation included personal details such as names, contact information, and the type of firearm carried.
Florida statute explicitly prohibits any government entity or person from maintaining a list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or their owners. The law includes significant penalties for non-compliance, including civil fines up to $5 million and potential third-degree felony charges for individuals found in violation.
Councilman Howland claims the practice began in July 2023—the same month Mayor Donna Deegan took office. While the mayor’s office asserts the policy may predate her administration, it has not directly denied the existence of the registry. Instead, a spokesperson stated that the city is reviewing policy directives from prior leadership and confirmed that it had complied with a subpoena from the State Attorney’s Office.
“The Deegan Administration has kept a registry of individuals who lawfully carry personal firearms into City Hall—a blatant violation of state law and likely the Constitution,” Howland wrote in a social media post. “This reckless move exposes taxpayers to serious legal liability.”
Though Howland stated the State Attorney’s Office is investigating the matter, the office itself declined to confirm the existence of any formal inquiry.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has since weighed in, calling the allegations a “serious breach of Florida law” if proven true. “Government gun registries are antithetical to the right of the people to keep and bear arms,” Uthmeier said via social media. He also pledged to ensure accountability if any laws were broken.
This incident is likely to heighten concerns among gun owners in Florida, a state with strong preemption laws designed to prevent local governments from enacting firearms regulations that conflict with state law. Since July 1, 2023, Floridians have been permitted to carry concealed firearms into government buildings, provided they are otherwise legally allowed to do so.
While the full scope and intent behind the alleged registry remain unclear, this case underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance and enforcement of Florida’s firearms preemption statutes. Florida’s “no registry” law is a critical safeguard for gun owners, ensuring that legally armed citizens are not subjected to unwarranted scrutiny or surveillance by local authorities.
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