JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The State Attorney\u2019s Office announced on Wednesday that no charges will be filed following an eight-month investigation into an allegedly illegal gun registry maintained by the city of Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
Action News Jax was first to discover<\/a> the city had been keeping names and other personal information of people who entered city buildings while armed. Despite some city leaders alleging the mayor had knowledge of this list, the new report concludes that wasn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n The lists started being kept after the state prohibited local governments from barring gun owners from carrying concealed weapons in government buildings.<\/p>\n >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Council Vice President Nick Howland questioned who knew what and when, as the creation of an illegal gun registry carries felony charges. Local governments found to be keeping them can face a $5 million fine.<\/p>\n Howland said on May 1, \u201cBut it\u2019s not up to me to determine who has given the directive. It\u2019s up to the State Attorney.\u201d <\/p>\n The allegations resulted in a criminal investigation, which saw at least nine current and former city officials subpoenaed<\/a>, including members of both Mayor Donna Deegan\u2019s and former Mayor Lenny Curry\u2019s Administrations.<\/p>\n Records showed a draft of the policy was created the day before Mayor Deegan took office, but email conversations between Deegan officials about the city\u2019s gun policy were happening at the same time.<\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n At the time, Mayor Deegan said the policy was not known to high-level administration members.<\/p>\n In a May 14 interview<\/a>, Deegan said, \u201cFrom what I can gather, this was a person who was very concerned about making sure that there was nothing to worry about in terms of security in the building.\u201d <\/p>\n Now, the final report has resulted in vindication for both mayors.<\/p>\n The report found the policy originated at the directive of a public works manager in the middle of the administration change, and the policy was never reviewed by the city\u2019s office of general counsel, despite that manager believing it had been.<\/p>\n [SIGN UP: <\/b>Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter<\/b><\/a>] <\/b><\/p>\n Investigators discovered no evidence that the policy was ever reviewed or approved by any senior officials in the Curry or Deegan administrations, and that \u201cthere is no evidence that the data in the logbooks was distributed, copied, or used for law enforcement or any other purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n The report highlights the terms \u201cknowingly and willfully\u201d in the gun registry statute as justification for not pressing charges, with investigators concluding, \u201cThe logbook incident stemmed from poor communication and a lack of legal review \u2014 not from deliberate misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n Investigators recommended improvements to legal reviews of new policies, increased oversight, and an audit of existing policies to prevent any future potential violations of state law.<\/p>\n City leaders are responding to the conclusion of the investigation. Mayor Deegan\u2019s Office issued a statement thanking the State Attorney\u2019s Office, adding, \u201cThey confirmed that the policy in question was implemented by an individual employee concerned with building security unbeknownst to Mayor Deegan or her leadership team.\u201d <\/p>\n Council Vice President Howland told us in part, \u201cThis episode underscores the need to remain vigilant in ensuring that the rights of Jacksonville residents are preserved.\u201d <\/p>\n But Florida\u2019s Attorney General James Uthmeier isn\u2019t so happy.<\/p>\n After Action News Jax broke news of the investigation\u2019s conclusion, Uthmeier called the lack of charges \u201cunacceptable\u201d and said, \u201cState Attorney Melissa Nelson will be hearing from my office soon\u201d.<\/p>\n He concluded by saying bluntly, \u201cThis isn\u2019t over.\u201d<\/p>\n The conclusion of this investigation without charges or accountability is unacceptable. State Attorney Melissa Nelson will be hearing from my office soon. <\/p>\n The City of Jacksonville\u2019s creation of a gun registry for any reason is unlawful and reprehensible.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t over. https:\/\/t.co\/mfmpcfbqWU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) December 31, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Click here<\/b><\/a> to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to stream Action News Jax live.<\/b><\/p>\n Action News Jax Top Stories<\/p>\n\n