Jacksonville, Florida Zoo - Win For The Second Amendment! © 2016 by Phillip Evans

Dear Pursuit of Patriotism Readers, 

On January 15th, I sent the email below to: zooadmin@jacksonvillezoo.org.

Dear Zoo Officials,

I saw that on your "Park Rules" web page at http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/parkrules it is stated that, "Guns or Weapons are not allowed inside the Zoo."

Since the Jacksonville Zoo is a municipal zoo, that means it is subject to state preemption law, which means that an attendee who possesses a valid firearms carry license may indeed legally carry a concealed pistol there, regardless of your policy.

You may want to update your policy and website to come into compliance with state law. Otherwise, you leave the city vulnerable to lawsuits whereby damages and attorney fees can be awarded to those whose rights are violated under state law. Not to mention a $5000 fine and removal from office for local government officials involved.

Please respond to let me know your intentions with regard to this matter. 

Florida has had state preemption with regard to firearms for some years now. It makes me wonder how people that are in charge of making rules can be ignorant of the law for such a long time.

Thanks and best regards,

Phillip Evans

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Today, I received the following reply:

Mr. Evans,

Thank you so much for pointing out my ignorance.

We have changed our gun policy.

Tony Vecchio, Executive Director

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

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If you now go to their Park Rules page, you will find no mention of firearms or weapons.

Executive Director Vecchio has good-naturedly taken to heart my email and promptly changed not only their policy, but their website as well. He has my thanks.