JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville City Council members on Monday gathered to discuss what’s being called an illegal gun registry.
Action News Jax first broke the story Thursday, after Councilman Nick Howland claimed the city was documenting any visitors carrying concealed weapons into two city buildings.
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The city’s top lawyer, General Counsel Michael Fackler, addressed leaders at the Rules Committee meeting. He said the city has hired outside counsel to represent the city during the course of an investigation by the State Attorney’s Office.
Since July 1st, 2023, Florida law has prevented local governments from prohibiting legal gun owners from carrying concealed in government buildings.
It’s the same day that Mayor Donna Deegan officially came into office.
Florida statute says “A state governmental agency or local government...may not knowingly and willfully keep or cause to be kept any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or any list, record, or registry of the owners of those firearms.”
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During the meeting on Monday, Fackler stated his office first learned of the alleged illegal gun registry on April 21st and hired outside legal representation that same day. The next day, Fackler said that they received subpoenas from the State Attorney’s Office, but he did not review them.
This was something that Councilman Ron Salem pushed back on.
“I don’t see how you can hire an outside attorney before you even understood the subpoenas and what they were looking for.”
Fackler also acknowledged that the outside counsel, local criminal defense firm Bedell, is partnered with defense attorney Hank Coxe -- Fackler’s father-in-law.
Fackler confirmed that the process of noting people with a gun into the city buildings has since stopped.
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During the meeting, City Councilman Jimmy Peluso claimed the registry was discussed at a prior meeting with the council two years ago, as they discussed the new law with agencies that handle city building security.
“All of you who were sitting up here then, just like you are sitting up here now, nobody said a word about it. I remember I was sitting in this seat, during that time, so all of a sudden for people to claim that ‘oh wow, there’s this awful registry that came out of nowhere.’ No, no, we learned about it in 2023 and none of you said anything.”
Action News Jax Ben Becker later looked to verify Peluso’s claim and contacted City Council Chief of Public Information Teresa Eichner. She said a meeting on July 25, 2023 that was closed to the public – otherwise known as a shade meeting - “only discussed active shooter training for council members and staff” and that a registry was never discussed.
Peluso later acknowledged in a series of text messages with Becker that he “misspoke” during the meeting.
Action News Jax reached out to the State Attorney’s Office to confirm the investigation. They said they cannot confirm anything at this time.
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