JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville City Councilmember said Thursday evening that Mayor Donna Deegan’s office kept an illegal registry of gun owners carrying guns into city buildings, but the mayor said Friday the policy came from a previous administration.

City Councilmember Nick Howland posted on X Thursday, claiming Deegan’s administration kept the registry in “blatant violation of state law and likely the [US] Constitution.”

Howland said the registry was for people lawfully carrying personal firearms into Jacksonville City Hall. He mentioned Florida is a “no registry” state.

In Florida, it is illegal for any government entity or person to knowingly keep any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or any list, record, or registry of the owners of those firearms, according to state statute.

“This reckless move exposes taxpayers to serious legal liability,” Howland said. “Jacksonville families could be on the hook for millions in legal fees, damages, and settlements.”

Friday, Deegan’s office issued a response, saying they were looking into the policy, which they said was written by a previous administration:

“The policy [in] question was created and written before Mayor Deegan took office. In light of the issue that has been raised, we are undergoing a review of all policy directives, particularly those from the previous administration that were left for us on their way out. Mayor Deegan and the leadership of her administration fully support constitutionally protected rights.

As we stated yesterday, the City of Jacksonville has received and complied with a subpoena from the State Attorney’s Office. Out of respect and in full cooperation with their review, we do not have further comment at this time.”

First Coast News is working to obtain a copy of the policy in question.