A spokesman for the Gun Owners of America discusses Jacksonville’s recently applied gun registry, and why it’s a huge problem.
For the past couple of years, Jacksonville, Florida had been home to a gun registry that, surprise, was completely illegal.
The registry, which was keeping track of people that lawfully carry guns into city buildings, had become a target of ire, even after its recent termination, and rightfully so.
Rules Chair Nick Howland recent demanded that the Mayor’s Office, along with its coordinating offices, “discuss the illegal firearm registry that has allegedly been maintained for nearly two years at both City Hall and the Yates Building.”
The registry was originally put together by a private security company back in 2023, when a state law protecting permitless carry went into effect.
But now this has gotten the attention of much bigger lawmakers. Attorney General James Uthmeler called it “a serious breach of Florida law by the City of Jacksonville.” And what’s more, Governor Ron DeSantis is completely against it, “Having a gun registry is unlawful and it is a violation of people’s Second Amendment rights; there needs to be consequences for it.”
Current Mayor Donna Deegan blamed previous Mayor Lenny Curry for the registry, though no official comment had been made yet.
Should this registry even have happened? And who should pay the price for it?
A spokesman for the Gun Owners of America joins us now to discuss this matter further. We welcome them to the show!
Q&A:
- What are your thoughts on Jacksonville keeping an illegal gun registry over permitted citizens over the past couple of years?
- What’s even the point of having such a registry, you think? Was the previous Mayor or members of his administration that concerned over potential violence targets?
- How badly did this registry violate the rights of citizens? Doesn’t it go completely against the Second Amendment?
- So what should happen now? Should those that were responsible for putting the registry in place be criminally charged? Or something else?
- Where do you see the argument surrounding gun rights going as 2025 continues onward?
- Gun Owners of America is hosting an event this year called GOALS 2025. Tell us more about it.
- FOR STEPHEN: You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- FOR STEPHEN: Where can people find your book?
- FOR MARK: Tell us more about the Hunter Outreach program.
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Mark Jones…
Mark Jones is National Director for the Gun Owners of America, and also directs the National Hunter Outreach Program across the United States. He also manages legislative responsibilities in Wyoming and is a Certified Wildlife Biologist.
Mark built GOA’s National Hunter Outreach Program almost four years ago after retiring from his first career as a Big Game and Small Game Biologist. Mark has nearly three decades of experience performing wildlife research, publishing peer-reviewed scientific papers, managing wildlife resources, working with hunters and recreational shooters, and engaging in legislative issues with governmental policy.
Mark has been very active in helping GOA take on a National role in protecting the American Hunting Traditions. He is also well known in the Legislature and political circles where he has worked to pass a variety of pro-Second Amendment and pro-hunting Legislation in recent years.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. He is the author of the book A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
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