JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State Attorney Melissa Nelson has formally asked Jacksonville City Council President Randy White to hold off on creating a special investigating committee into the city’s firearm registry.
The city confirmed the firearm registry last week, which was tracking firearms brought into City Hall and the city’s Yates building. During Monday’s Rules Committee meeting, Councilman Ron Salem called for council members to look into the matter.
Last week, the state attorney’s office confirmed both a subpoena and an investigation into whether Florida law was violated when the firearm registry was created. Mayor Donna Deegan’s office has stated that the policy in question was implemented before she took office.
RELATED | City Council Rules Committee discusses firearm registry policy
During Monday’s Rules Committee meeting, Councilman Salem said he was in favor of the formation of a special investigative committee, similar to the one established during the JEA scandal nearly six years ago. However, following a conversation with State Attorney Nelson, Salem said he was willing to step back.
“Melissa Nelson called me last night after the rules committee and said that she would prefer that I and the council not get involved in the investigation. That’s all I needed to hear,” Salem stated.
In a letter addressed to Council President Randy White and Rules Committee Chair Nick Howland cc’d, Nelson’s office said in part: “Councilman Salem suggested the council would not pursue an investigation if the state attorney asked it not to do so. Please accept this letter as a formal request from my office to delay or pause any effort to form such an investigative body.”
Salem also highlighted potential legal risks, noting that individuals listed on the registry could potentially sue the city, leading to significant financial liabilities.
“Clearly, there are potential lawsuits from everybody that is listed on that register,” Salem said. “They could sue the city, so there’s potentially millions of dollars in lawsuits that could be coming to the city due to that collection.”
The issue has sparked discussions about potential political motivations against Mayor Deegan. Republican Councilman Matt Carlucci emphasized the need for nonpartisan leadership. In a statement, he cautioned against presumptive accusations without evidence.
“Public accusations that presume guilt without evidence against Mayor Donna Deegan do not reflect the kind of leadership our city, and our people deserve,” Carlucci noted. “This is not about whether one agrees with the Mayor’s policies. It is about how we govern, how we model restraint, and how we serve a city that is nearly evenly divided politically.”
Carlucci plans to hold a meeting on the matter this coming Monday.
News4JAX received this response from Mayor Deegan’s office when asked about the state attorney’s letter.
“The City of Jacksonville continues to fully cooperate with the review being conducted by the State Attorney’s Office, the appropriate investigative body.”
