Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is weighing civil action against the City of Jacksonville after the Fourth Circuit State Attorney declined to file criminal charges over binders of “Weapon and Firearm” logbooks kept at City Hall and the Yates Building. Investigators recovered two large binders that together contained more than 140 entries listing names, birthdates, ID numbers and firearm types for over 100 individuals, and the practice stopped in April 2025 once a citizen complaint triggered a review.
State probe found no criminal intent
An eight-month review by the State Attorney’s Office concluded the logbook practice stemmed from poor communication and a lack of legal review rather than a deliberate attempt to violate state law, according to the State Attorney’s investigative memo. The memo says the city halted the practice immediately and found no evidence the data was copied, shared or used for law enforcement, a conclusion local reporting echoed in News4JAX.
How the logbooks began
Documents produced under subpoena show the instruction to record visitors’ names, state-issued photo ID numbers, ages and weapon type first appeared in a “Check Points and Perimeter Security” memo drafted June 30, 2023 and finalized July 24, 2023 by Facilities Manager Mike Soto during the mayoral transition. That change, implemented after Florida’s permitless-carry law took effect, and the resulting subpoenas were first reported by Action News Jax.
Legal stakes and the AG's next move
Florida law bars government-run gun registries and allows a court to assess civil fines when a list was compiled “with the knowledge or complicity of the management of the governmental entity,” per Florida Statute 790.335. Attorney General James Uthmeier has called the State Attorney’s outcome “unacceptable” and, in remarks captured by local outlets, vowed “This isn't over,” according to Action News Jax, and Florida Politics reports his office plans to retrieve evidence and consider civil remedies against the city.
City response and what comes next
Mayor Donna Deegan’s office said the city cooperated fully with the State Attorney’s Office and that the logbook directive was implemented by a single employee rather than approved by senior officials, a statement reported by News4JAX. The SAO recommended stronger legal review, an audit of policies and elevated oversight, and local leaders say they will await any formal move by the attorney general before deciding next steps.
