Most Broward County Commissioners don’t want people walking into public buildings or parks with handguns.
Commissioner Stacy Ritter says it’s just a bad idea.
"Many counties don’t have sexual assault treatment or addiction recovery centers, so they don’t have to deal with these problems. If I were the victim of a sexual assault, going through a recovery program, or if I was beaten up and sexually assaulted, I would not want that person coming into that facility with a gun,” Ritter in an email statement. “If he/she did come in with a gun I would want staff to be able to say ‘No you can’t come in,’ and that can’t happen now.”
The Florida Legislature recently passed a law prohibiting local governments from enacting gun ordinances that are stricter than state law. There are just a few places in Florida where guns are prohibited like schools, courtrooms, hospitals and government meetings. Beyond that, people with a concealed weapons permit can carry their pistols wherever they like.
A majority of Broward commissioners, eight Democrats, voted in favor of asking Florida lawmakers to allow the county to enact its own gun laws.
The lone Republican, Chip LaMarca, voted against it.
"You have rights as a citizen if you have a concealed weapons permit. The bottom line is you have a lot of responsibility with those right,” LaMarca said.
Local
The law also includes a fine of up to $5,000 for each elected or appointed official who violates the law.
The local bill is expected to be filed during the next legislative session in January.
And on Tuesday, Fort Lauderdale city commissioners started relaxing the city’s ban on weapons at parades and public events, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Also, Fort Lauderdale will be dropping an ordinance that says it’s illegal to discharge a weapon within city limits, but officials said police can use a state law against reckless discharge of a firearm, the paper said.
