Why this deserves attention
A coalition of gun rights advocacy groups has filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville, challenging firearm restrictions enforced across several municipal venues. The complaint, filed by Gun Owners of America (GOA), the Gun Owners Foundation, Florida Carry, and individual plaintiffs, names the City of Jacksonville, Mayor Donna Deegan, and Sheriff T.K. Waters as defendants. The lawsuit (Case No. 16-2026-CA-006676-AXXX-MA) alleges that local policies barring lawfully carried firearms violate Florida’s firearms preemption statute, which reserves firearms regulation exclusively to the state legislature.
According to the complaint, lawful concealed carriers have been denied entry, forced to disarm, or threatened with trespassing citations when attempting to access city-owned properties. The filing highlights specific incidents at major municipal facilities, including EverBank Stadium, the Florida Theatre, the Moran Theater, and the Jacksonville Fairgrounds. The plaintiffs contend that local officials and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office are establishing unauthorized restrictions that exceed statutory allowances under state law.
In practice, this lawsuit targets the operational rules governing publicly owned entertainment, sports, and cultural facilities. Florida maintains stringent preemption laws that penalize local governments and officials for enacting local gun regulations. If the court rules for the plaintiffs, Jacksonville will be forced to eliminate carry bans across its public venues, setting a clear operational boundary for other Florida municipalities managing similar entertainment facilities. A ruling upholding the city's posture would provide local governments greater latitude in managing security protocols at public venues.
What remains uncertain is the specific legal defense the city and sheriff will mount—particularly whether they will argue that venue policies are set by third-party leaseholders, private event operators, or specific statutory exceptions. The court has not yet scheduled preliminary hearings or ruled on the complaint's merits.