04-10-2013, 01:03 AM
Received this reply yesterday from one of the County Commisioners. Looks like it is going nowhere.
Thank you for contacting my office about the separate motions regarding the violence prevention initiative and the request of the County Attorney to research a countywide ordinance banning assault weapons. Both of these motions were passed at the April 3rd Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners meeting. It is important to note that these two issues are separate from one another.
The Board unanimously approved a violence prevention initiative designed to transform the way local policy makers address violence and the detailed proposal can be viewed online. The cost of this initiative is $150,000 for consultation and facilitation services. It is funded by a victim assistance, crime prevention and youth advocacy trust that is funded by booking, subsistence and incarceration fees collected from jail inmates and convicted criminals.
The expert consultant identified to lead this initiative is Prevention Institute, a national nonprofit with extensive experience in planning and implementing large-scale community violence prevention initiatives. It has worked with 18 other communities throughout the U.S., most notably the city of Minneapolis, MN and Alameda County, CA on similar efforts, and is funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help cities reduce youth violence. In 1996, Congress barred the CDC from studying guns, and as a result, Prevention Institute is also restricted from advocating for or promoting gun control.
Separate and apart from that motion and discussion, Commissioner Miller brought forward an item that was not on the agenda. Commissioner Miller requested that the County Attorney research whether the County can pass an ordinance to ban the sale of assault weapons, ban the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines, and require background checks on all gun sales. The Board approved his request for information by a 6-1 vote.
The County attorney has already issued his legal opinion, which states: “Accordingly, I do not recommend proceeding with County action banning assault weapons or high capacity magazines or testing whether magazines are within the scope of the term firearm, or components thereof, in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes.” It concludes that “(1) the County is clearly prohibited from banning assault weapons, (2) the County does not have clear authority to bank high capacity magazines and (3) the County has limited authority to require criminal background checks as provided in the Florida Constitution. The County has already adopted an ordinance requiring background checks and waiting periods pursuant to the Florida Constitution.” The full report will be presented at the April 17 Board Meeting.
I hope this clarifies the issues for you.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Kevin Beckner
District 6 - Countywide
Hillsborough County BOCC
p: 813.272.5730 | f: 813.272.7053
thanks for everyones support,
Ken
Thank you for contacting my office about the separate motions regarding the violence prevention initiative and the request of the County Attorney to research a countywide ordinance banning assault weapons. Both of these motions were passed at the April 3rd Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners meeting. It is important to note that these two issues are separate from one another.
The Board unanimously approved a violence prevention initiative designed to transform the way local policy makers address violence and the detailed proposal can be viewed online. The cost of this initiative is $150,000 for consultation and facilitation services. It is funded by a victim assistance, crime prevention and youth advocacy trust that is funded by booking, subsistence and incarceration fees collected from jail inmates and convicted criminals.
The expert consultant identified to lead this initiative is Prevention Institute, a national nonprofit with extensive experience in planning and implementing large-scale community violence prevention initiatives. It has worked with 18 other communities throughout the U.S., most notably the city of Minneapolis, MN and Alameda County, CA on similar efforts, and is funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help cities reduce youth violence. In 1996, Congress barred the CDC from studying guns, and as a result, Prevention Institute is also restricted from advocating for or promoting gun control.
Separate and apart from that motion and discussion, Commissioner Miller brought forward an item that was not on the agenda. Commissioner Miller requested that the County Attorney research whether the County can pass an ordinance to ban the sale of assault weapons, ban the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines, and require background checks on all gun sales. The Board approved his request for information by a 6-1 vote.
The County attorney has already issued his legal opinion, which states: “Accordingly, I do not recommend proceeding with County action banning assault weapons or high capacity magazines or testing whether magazines are within the scope of the term firearm, or components thereof, in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes.” It concludes that “(1) the County is clearly prohibited from banning assault weapons, (2) the County does not have clear authority to bank high capacity magazines and (3) the County has limited authority to require criminal background checks as provided in the Florida Constitution. The County has already adopted an ordinance requiring background checks and waiting periods pursuant to the Florida Constitution.” The full report will be presented at the April 17 Board Meeting.
I hope this clarifies the issues for you.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Kevin Beckner
District 6 - Countywide
Hillsborough County BOCC
p: 813.272.5730 | f: 813.272.7053
thanks for everyones support,
Ken