JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A proposed Duval County School Board policy would allow school staff, employees, contractors and parents to keep guns in their vehicles on campus, even as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office warns that gun thefts from vehicles are rising.
Under the district’s current policy, having a gun in a vehicle on campus can result in a misdemeanor. Florida law allows guns to be stored in vehicles on school property but permits school districts to opt out. Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties have done so.
JSO reports show 388 guns were stolen from vehicles this year as of October 7, up from 330 last year. In a social media video, the agency urged residents to remove guns from their vehicles.
Duval County mother Katie Hathaway, who said the proposal is helping fuel her campaign for Jacksonville City Council, opposed the possible change.
“I believe our board should be doing everything to keep guns away from our schools,” Hathaway said. “And it’s incredibly reckless for our school board chair to be rushing this policy through without any meaningful input from families or our educators who this is going to greatly impact.”
The proposed policy would require guns to be “securely encased.” Gun store owner Z Farhat said secure storage is critical because firearms can be stolen from vehicles. “I’ve had customers have their guns stolen out in front of our store before,” Farhat said. “It’s rare, but it has happened.”
An unlocked glove box would meet the definition of securely encased, although JSO advises gun owners not to leave firearms in vehicles.
Supporters argue that having a gun within reach could help stop an attacker. They pointed to a case in Oregon where, police said, a bystander who was not at the school responded after hearing gunshots.
One supporter said security systems and monitoring could allow an armed person to act before a threat reaches students.
“If you have a good safety system and you have everything kind of locked down and you have it monitored, this guy’s walking up there with a rifle or a shotgun, you’re going to see him coming,” the supporter said. “I think you would engage him before he gets near a student.”
The board is split on the proposal. The earliest it could vote is Nov. 9.
Action News Jax contacted all seven board members and Sheriff T.K. Waters for their positions on the policy but had not received responses.
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