Why did Gun Owners of America Sue Jacksonville Florida
Why did Gun Owners of America Sue Jacksonville Florida
Gregg Kielma Tactical K Training and Firearms
10/6/2026
Gun Owners of America filed suit against the City of Jacksonville after officials repeatedly enforced gun‑free zones at several city‑owned venues in ways that clearly violate Florida’s firearms‑preemption law. As a lawful gun owner and firearms instructor, I see this as more than a simple policy dispute it’s a direct challenge to the rights of every responsible Floridian who carries legally. Florida law is explicit: only the state legislature can regulate firearms, and municipalities are strictly prohibited from creating their own restrictions. Despite that, Jacksonville officials allowed EverBank Stadium, the Moran Theater, the Florida Theatre, and the Jacksonville Fairgrounds to impose blanket firearm bans that have no basis in state statute. In multiple cases, lawful concealed carriers were threatened with trespass or forced to disarm, including GOA’s Florida State Director Luis Valdes, who was told by a JSO officer that he would be removed if he didn’t surrender his firearm even though he was fully within his rights.
To me, that’s not just overreach; its intimidation backed by the weight of government authority. Florida’s preemption law doesn’t merely forbid local gun control it penalizes officials who knowingly violate it. Jacksonville’s actions ignored that reality, creating unauthorized gun‑free zones and directing law enforcement to enforce policies that the city had no legal right to impose. GOA’s lawsuit aims to strike down these illegal venue rules and prevent Jacksonville from enforcing any firearm restrictions beyond what state law allows. This case matters because if one city can get away with ignoring preemption, others will follow, creating a patchwork of arbitrary rules that leave lawful carriers vulnerable to harassment, confiscation, and inconsistent enforcement.
As someone who trains people to carry responsibly, I believe Jacksonville’s behavior undermines trust and erodes the rule of law. Law‑abiding citizens shouldn’t have to fight their own city to exercise rights that are clearly protected. GOA’s lawsuit is necessary to remind every municipality in Florida that they don’t get to rewrite gun laws, bully lawful carriers, or ignore state authority simply because they prefer different policies. This is about defending the rights of responsible gun owners and ensuring that Florida’s laws are respected not selectively enforced based on political preference.