Security guards at Jacksonville City Hall were directed to write down the names of people who brought guns inside the building. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Published on January 2, 2026 at 9:40 am
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The local prosecutor’s office has concluded there was no criminal wrongdoing in a gun log kept at Jacksonville City Hall and another city building.
The state attorney began investigating in May 2025 after it learned that security guards were keeping a list of names of anyone who brought a gun inside the buildings. It is legal in Florida to carry a weapon inside of a public building, but it is not legal to record a list of gun owners.
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The city practice began in July 2023 after a new Florida law went into effect that allows gun owners to carry concealed weapons without permits. The investigation revealed that a public works manager came up with the idea of the log, believing it would help with emergency preparedness.
The state attorney concluded that the person behind the idea was not aware it was illegal to keep the list, and that no senior city officials or lawyers approved the directive.
The final report blames lack of oversight rather than deliberate misconduct.
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