Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced plans to pursue civil enforcement against the City of Jacksonville over its maintenance of a firearm registry documenting gun owners who entered city buildings while armed. The move follows Uthmeier's criticism of State Attorney Melissa Nelson's office for what he called a misinterpretation of state law regarding local firearm regulations.

The controversy stems from a two-year period during which Jacksonville officials collected names and personal information of over 100 concealed carry permit holders entering government buildings. Since July 2023, state law has prohibited local governments from restricting legal gun owners from carrying concealed weapons in government buildings. Uthmeier's office contends the city's actions violated this prohibition.

Uthmeier shared a letter with Nelson stating that the city's maintenance of a firearm registry for two years "does not withstand scrutiny." The attorney general's civil enforcement action represents a significant escalation in the dispute, following Nelson's December announcement that no criminal charges would be filed. The case highlights ongoing tensions between state firearm preemption laws and local government practices regarding gun owner information.