Newest Threads

**canebrake** · 09-11-2011, 12:47 AM

Local officials "bed-wetting" over Florida preemption gun law

(GunAuction.com) -- The state of Florida is going after a gang of gun outlaws by threatening them with $5,000 fines, firings and lawsuits. So who's in the gang? City councils and county commissions are now scrambling to rewrite local gun laws, because they're staring down the barrel at fines, firings and lawsuits because of a new state law, set to take effect Oct. 1.

The new state law allows judgments of up to $100,000 against local governments that enforce local gun laws. And, in an unusual move, the state law also says local officials could be fired and fined $5,000, with no representation from the city or county attorney.

Conn said city officials at first reacted with "a level of disbelief" as they realized their governments could be penalized and "you're going to be held personally liable as well."

State Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, who sponsored the law, said "There's been plenty of hand-wringing and bed-wetting from local government."

But he said something needed to be done to prevent them from "willfully" violating state law. He pointed to the city of South Miami, which passed an ordinance requiring trigger locks.

It's good to live in the "GunShine" state - cane