Florida AG Orders Winter Garden to Ditch Illegal Park Gun Ban
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has identified another municipality operating outside state law. On July 16, 2026, Uthmeier sent formal notice to Winter Garden, Florida that its ban on firearms and weapons at Tucker Ranch Recreation and Nature Complex violates Florida's preemption statute. The city must remove all "no guns allowed" signage immediately.
Key Details
- Winter Garden posted prohibitions on both "weapons" and "firearms" at the recreation and nature complex
- The violation falls under Florida's statewide preemption law that bars municipalities from imposing carry restrictions beyond state authority
- Uthmeier has made enforcement of carry law preemption a priority in his term as AG
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
This action reaffirms a critical win for Florida carriers: municipalities cannot carve out gun-free zones on public property without explicit state authorization. If you legally carry in Florida, Winter Garden's parks are now accessible to you—assuming the city complies with the AG's order. The pattern here is clear: Uthmeier is systematically hunting down local ordinances that exceed state law. Gun owners in other Florida cities should expect similar letters if their municipalities maintain unauthorized restrictions on public spaces, recreation areas, or government facilities. Check your local parks and municipal codes; if you spot a restrictive sign, report it.
DownRange Analysis
Winter Garden's park ban is exactly the type of local overreach that preemption statutes are designed to prevent. Under Bruen, state preemption laws themselves survive scrutiny—they represent a legitimate exercise of state authority to prevent a patchwork of local restrictions. What's notable is Uthmeier's proactive enforcement. This isn't litigation; it's a warning letter backed by the weight of the AG's office. Most cities will comply rather than fight a sitting attorney general. The real test comes if Winter Garden refuses and forces litigation. Until then, this signals to other Florida municipalities that the AG is actively monitoring compliance, which should chill further attempts at de facto gun bans on public property.
