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1 RESOLUTION NO. ______ _
2
3 A Resolution of the City of South Miami, Florida, supporting efforts to
4 reduce gun violence and illegal firearms trafficking through more
5 responsible gun sales and marketing practices.
6
7 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami Mayor, Philip K. Stoddard, is a member of
8 Mayors Against Illegal Guns ("MAIG"), a national, bipartisan coalition of more than 800 mayors
9 who represent more than 58 million Americans that strongly support the Fix Gun Checks Act;
10 and
11
12 WHEREAS, a 2000 report by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
13 Explosives (ATF) identified federally licensed gun dealers as among the largest sources of
14 illegally trafficked guns; and
15
16 WHEREAS, the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting (FCIR) found that gun
17 murders in Florida rose 38 percent between 2000 and 2011, and that guns are used in more than
18 70 percent of Florida homicides, up from 56 percent in 2000; and
19
20 WHEREAS, guns often fall into criminal hands through "straw purchases," where a
21 friend or family member of a criminal purchases a gun and passes it along; and
22
23 WHEREAS, a recent study published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing
24 reported that responsible practices by gun manufacturers and distributors help to prevent guns
25 from falling into criminal hands and lead to a lower incidence of guns being recovered from
26 violent crimes; and
27
28 WHEREAS, MAIG and Wal-Mart have developed a comprehensive plan ("Responsible
29 Firearms Retailer Partnership") to curb the illegal trafficking of firearms through more
30 responsible gun sales and marketing practices, and reached an agreement which requires basic
31 and sensible marketing safeguards such as videotaping of gun sales, increased store security, and
32 employee training and background checks; and
33
34 WHEREAS, in the voluntary code signed by retailers that participate in the Responsible
35 Firearms Retailer Partnership, retailers agree to provide a computerized crime gun trace log and
36 alert system, require purchaser declarations and ID checking mechanisms, provide point of sale
37 signage alerting customers of their legal responsibilities, and prohibit sales without background
38 check results; and
39
40 WHEREAS, the South Miami City Commission commends and applauds these
41 voluntary efforts of responsible gun manufacturers and distributors which contribute to the
42 reduction of gun violence and crimes in our communities, and supports the creation of a coalition
43 in support of the initiative to reduce gun violence and illegal firearms trafficking.
44
45
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida, support
the efforts of responsible firearms retailers to reduce gun violence and illegal firearms trafficking
through more responsible gun sales and marketing practices, direct the City Manager to
coordinate with the Police Chief to partner with other municipalities to create a coalition in
support of this initiative and to work with firearms and ammunition suppliers to encourage the
consideration of sales and marketing safeguards, and directing the City Clerk to send a certified
copy of this Resolution to all South Florida municipalities, the Florida League of Cities, Inc., all
members of Florida's congressional delegation, and to the Obama administration.
Section 2. Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for
any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 3. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption by vote of the City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of ,2013.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
CITY CLERK MAYOR
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM, COMMISSION VOTE:
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND Mayor Stoddard:
EXECUTION THEREOF Vice Mayor Liebman:
Commissioner Newman:
Commissioner Harris:
CITY ATTORNEY Commissioner Welsh:
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