FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 29, 2026 

Jacksonville, FL — Gun Owners of America (GOA), Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), Florida Carry, and individual plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit challenging firearm restrictions enforced at City-owned venues across Jacksonville.

The suit (Case No. 16-2026-CA-006676-AXXX-MA) names the City of Jacksonville, Sheriff T.K. Waters, and Mayor Donna Deegan—and challenges local firearm restrictions that violate Florida’s firearms-preemption law by going beyond what is authorized under state law. 

The complaint details incidents at the Moran Theater, Florida Theatre, Jacksonville Fairgrounds, and EverBank Stadium where lawful concealed carriers were forced to disarm or denied entry. 

GOA Florida State Director Luis Valdes, a plaintiff in the case, issued the following statement: 

“Jacksonville does not get to invent its own gun laws. Florida law is clear that it preempts localities from imposing stricter gun control. I was lawfully carrying at a city-owned venue that wasn’t a gun-free zone when a JSO officer told me to disarm or be trespassed. We are taking Jacksonville to court to end these unlawful restrictions and protect the rights of every law-abiding gun owner in Florida.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.   

-GOA-