Miami-Dade Leaders Launch Gun Vendor Initiative

Leaders of 14 municipalities in Miami-Dade County are taking part in the launch of a new firearms vendor initiative aimed at using market forces to promote responsibility in the gun industry.
 
Officials with the Arms With Ethics organization say mayors and other elected officials will announce details Tuesday at a Coconut Grove news conference. The aim is to get gun vendors to adopt a series of best practices such as training workers to recognize illicit gun purchases and doing regular inventory checks.
 
Cities and towns that endorse the initiative would agree to purchase firearms for their police departments only from vendors that adhere to these practices.
 
Arms With Ethics estimates that about 15 percent of all guns are purchased by local governments, accounting for $1.7 billion a year.