Loading...
_add-on a)1 RESOLUTION NO. Add-on item a) Sponsored by: Mayor Stoddard 3/6/18 City Commission Meeting -------- 2 3 A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, 4 Florida. authorizing and directing the City Attorney to join the lawsuit filed 5 by the City of Weston seeking a declaration that the provisions punishing 6 elected officials set forth in section 790.33, Florida Statutes, for violating the 7 preemption related to the regulation of firearms and ammunition are invalid. 8 9 WHEREAS, over the past several years there have been an unprecedented number of 10 mass shootings in American communities including, most recently, at Marjory Stoneman 11 Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; and 12 13 WHEREAS, national and state leaders continue to fail to act to implement sensible gun 14 law reforms that are supported by a majority of the nation; and 15 16 WHEREAS, on January 22, 2013, the City Commission for the City of Weston adopted 17 Resolution No. 201303, urging the Florida Legislature to repeal certain sections of Florida 18 Statutes that prevent local governments from exercising their Home Rule Authority to regulate 19 and/or prohibit firearms in public parks and other local government-owned facilities and 20 property; and 21 22 WHEREAS, on April 7, 2014, the City Commission for the City of Weston adopted 23 Resolution No. 2014-34, supporting House Bill 305 and Senate Bill 492, which would have 24 amended Florida Statutes to permit a local government to exercise its Home Rule Authority to 25 regulate firearms and ammunition upon local government-owned property; and 26 27 WHEREAS, requests by the City of Weston to the Florida legislature to enact legislation 28 relating to firearms in City facilities and parks, or to allow the City to do so, have been 29 unsuccessful; and 30 31 WHEREAS, in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, the State of Florida (a) declared that it 32 is occupying the whole field of regulation of firearms and ammunition, to the exclusion of all 33 existing and future county or city ordinances, regulations or rules, (b) prohibit the enactment of 34 any future ordinances or regulations "relating to firearms," and (c) creates potential liability for 35 monetary damages and removal from office for actions that violate s. 790.33; and 36 37 WHEREAS, Section 790.33 's use of the terms "relating to firearms" and "any measure, 38 directive, rule, enactment, order or policy promulgated," is extremely broad and vague, and 39 could apply to a panoply of measures that the City would like to consider enacting, including the 40 restricting of guns in City facilities and parks, the placing of signs relating to guns in City 41 facilities and parks, the regulation of gun accessories (such as holsters or bump stocks) or the 42 creating of "gun free zones" or "gun safe zones"; and 43 44 WHEREAS, the potential violation of the broad and vague preemption of firearm 45 regulation in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, carries the risk of onerous and punitive 46 consequences, including but not limited to damages up to $100,000, assessment of attorney fees Page 1 of 3 Add-on item a) Sponsored by: Mayor Stoddard 3/6/18 City Commission Meeting 1 and court costs, fines up to $5,000 (for which the official may be personally liable), removal 2 from office by the Governor without due process of law, and a prohibition of the use of public 3 funds to payor reimburse the official for fines, damages or defense costs (collectively, the 4 "Onerous Preemption Penalties"); and 5 6 WHEREAS, the City Commission and its members fear taking any steps that could even 7 remotely be viewed as a violation of the preemption due to the Onerous Preemption Penalties 8 which creates a chilling effect upon City action and it prevents the City Commission from doing 9 its duty to provide for the safety and welfare of its citizens by protecting them against the 10 dangers of firearms; and 11 12 WHEREAS, the City Commission and its members desire to consider various reasonable 13 measures related to firearms, including the restriction of guns in City facilities and parks, the 14 placing of signs related to guns in City facilities and parks, the regulation of gun accessories 15 (such as holsters or bump stocks), the creation of "gun free zones" or "gun safe zones," or other 16 measures related to guns, but have refrained from doing so because they could possibly be 17 viewed as violating s. 790.33 and be subjected to the Onerous Preemption Penalties; and 18 19 WHEREAS, the Onerous Preemption Penalties strike at the core of the American system 20 of democratic representation; they suppress the voice of the local electorate through intimidation 21 of local elected officials; and 22 23 WHEREAS, the Onerous Preemption Penalties infringe on the free speech rights of the 24 City Commission and its members, and interfere with their ability to perform their official duties; 25 and 26 27 WHEREAS, the Onerous Preemption Penalties infringe upon the legislative immunity 28 that the members of the City Commission enjoy under law when casting votes in their official 29 capacities; and 30 31 WHEREAS, s. 790.33 conflicts with Article 4, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution, by 32 allowing the Governor to remove a municipal official who has not been indicted for any crime, 33 and violates due process; and 34 35 WHEREAS, the City Commission believes it is in the best interest of the residents of the 36 City to file a lawsuit seeking a declaration that the Onerous Preemption Penalties are invalid. 37 38 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY 39 COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: 40 41 Section 1: The foregoing recitals contained in the preamble to this Resolution are 42 incorporated by reference herein. 43 44 Section 2: The City Attorney is hereby authorized and instructed to join with the City of 45 Weston in its lawsuit seeking declaratory and other appropriate relief to challenge the Onerous Page 2 of 3 Add-on item a) Sponsored by: Mayor Stoddard 3/6/18 City Commission Meeting 1 Preemption Penalties contained in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, based upon any appropriate 2 legal theories, including those set forth above. 3 4 Section 3: The City Commission invites and urges other local governments and elected 5 officials to join the City as plaintiffs in the lawsuit and to coordinate their efforts with the City of 6 Weston. 7 8 Section 4: The City Clerk IS directed to distribute this Resolution to all local 9 governments in Miami-Dade County. 10 11 Section 5: The appropriate City officials are authorized to execute all necessary 12 documents and to take any necessary action to effectuate the intent of this Resolution. 13 14 Section 6: Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for 15 any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall 16 not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. 17 18 Section 7: Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon 19 adoption. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of _____ , 2018. ATTEST: APPROVED: CITY CLERK MAYOR READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM, COMMISSION VOTE: LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND EXECUTION Mayor Stoddard: EXECUTION THEREOF Vice Mayor Harris: Commissioner Welsh: Commissioner Liebman: Commissioner Gil: CITY ATTORNEY Page 3 of3 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 CITY OF WESTON, FLORI DA RESOLUTION NO. 2018-30 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WESTON, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE A LAWSUIT SEEKING A DECLARATION THAT THE PROVISIONS PUNISHING ELECTED OFFICIALS SET FORTH IN SECTION 790.33, FLORIDA STATUTES, FOR VIOLATING THE PREEMPTION RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ARE INVALID, AND INVITING OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO JOIN THE LAWSUIT. 13 WHEREAS, First, over the past several years there have been an unprecedented number of 14 mass shootings in American communities including, most recently, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas 15 High School in Parkland, Florida; and 16 17 WHEREAS, Second, National and State leaders continue to fail to act to implement sensible 18 gun law reforms that are supported by a majority of the nation; and 19 20 WHEREAS, Third, the residents of Weston have repeatedly petitioned that the City 21 Commission take action regarding gun violence, including requests that the City ban, restrict or take 22 other steps that would reduce the threat from firearms in City facilities and parks; and 23 24 WHEREAS, Fifth, on January 22, 2013, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2013- 25 03, urging the Florida Legislature to repeal certain sections of Florida Statutes that prevent local 26 governments from exercising their Home Rule Authority to regulate and/or prohibit firearms in public 27 parks and other local government-owned facilities and property; and 28 29 WHEREAS, Sixth, on April 7, 2014, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2014-34, 30 supporting House 8ill305 and Senate Bill 492, which would have amended Florida Statutes to permit 31 a local government to exercise its Home Rule Authority to regulate firearms and ammunition upon 32 local government-owned property; and 33 34 WHEREAS, Seventh, the City's requests to the State Legislature to enact legislation relating to 35 firearms in City facilities and parks, or to allow the City to do so, have been unsuccessful; and 36 37 WHEREAS, Eighth, in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, the State of Florida (a) declared that it 38 is occupying the whole field of regulation of firearms and ammunition, to the exclusion of all existing 39 and future county or city ordinances, regulations or rules, (b) purports to prohibit the enactment of 40 any future ordinances or regulations "relating to firearms," and (c) also purports to create potential 41 liability for damages for actions other than ordinances and regulations, including any "measure, 42 directive, rule, enactment, order, or policy promulgated or caused to be enforced"; and 43 44 WHEREAS, Ninth, the purported preemption, by using the terms "relating to firearms" and 45 "any measure, directive, rule, enactment, order or policy promulgated," is extremely broad and 46 vague, and could apply to a panoply of measures that the City would like to consider enacting, #69019 v1 Resolution No. 2018-30 Page 1 of 4 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WESTON, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE A LAWSUIT SEEKING A DECLARATION THAT THE PROVISIONS PUNISHING ELECTED OFFICIALS SET FORTH IN SECTION 790.33, FLORIDA STATUTES, FOR VIOLATING THE PREEMPTION RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ARE INVALID, AND INVITING OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO JOIN THE LAWSUIT. including the restricting of guns in City facilities and parks, the placing of signs relating to guns in 2 City facilities and parks, the regulation of gun accessories (such as holsters or bump stocks) or the 3 creating of "gun free zones" or "gun safe zones"; and 4 5 WHEREAS, Tenth, the potential violation of the broad and vague preemption of firearm 6 regulation in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, carries the risk of onerous and punitive consequences, 7 including but not limited to damages up to $100,000 and fines up to $5,000 (for which the official 8 may be personally liable), removal from office by the Governor without due process of law, and a 9 prohibition of the use of public funds to payor reimburse the official for fines, damages or defense 10 costs (collectively, the "Onerous Preemption Penalties"); and 11 12 WHEREAS, Eleventh, as a result of the Onerous Preemption Penalties, the City Commission 13 and its members fear taking any steps that cou Id even remotely be viewed as a violation of the 14 preemption, creating a chilling effect upon City action and preventing the City Commission from 15 responding to the petitions and requests of the City's residents to do someth ing to protect against the 16 dangers of firearms; and 17 18 WHEREAS, Twelfth, the City Commission and its members desire to consider various 19 reasonable measures related to firearms, including the restriction of guns in City facilities and parks, 20 the placing of signs related to guns in City facilities and parks, the regulation of gun accessories (such 21 as holsters or bump stocks), the creation of "gun free zones" or "gun safe zones/' or other measures 22 related to guns, but have refrained from doing so because they could possibly be viewed as falling 23 under the preemption and be subjected to the Onerous Preemption Penalties; and 24 25 WHEREAS, Thirteenth, the Onerous Preemption Penalties strike at the core of the American 26 system of democratic representation: they suppress, in an insidious, Orwellian fashion, the voice of 27 the local electorate through intimidation of local elected officials; and 28 29 WHEREAS, Fourteenth, the Onerous Preemption Penalties infringe on the free speech rights 30 of the City Commission and its members, and interfere with their ability to perform their official 31 duties; and 32 33 WHEREAS, Fifteenth, the Onerous Preemption Penalties infringe upon the legislative 34 immunity the members of the City Commission enjoy under law when casting votes in their official 35 capacities; and 36 37 WHEREAS, Sixteenth, the portion of the Onerous Preemption Penalties related to the removal 38 from office by the Governor conflicts with Article 4, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution, byallowing 39 the Governor to remove a municipal official who has not been indicted for any crime, and violates 40 due process; and 41 #69019 v1 Resolution No. 2018-30 Page 2 of 4 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WESTON, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE A LAWSUIT SEEKING A DECLARATION THAT THE PROVISIONS PUNISHING ELECTED OFFICIALS SET FORTH IN SECTION 790.33, FLORIDA STATUTES, FOR VIOLATING THE PREEMPTION RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ARE INVALID, AND INVITING OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO JOIN THE LAWSUIT. WHEREAS, Seventeenth, the City Commission believes it is in the best interest of the residents 2 of the City to file a lawsuit seeking a declaration that the Onerous Preemption Penalties are invalid 3 and urging other local governments to join the lawsuit as plaintiffs with the City. 4 5 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Weston, Florida: 6 7 Section 1: The foregoing recitals contained in the preamble to this Resolution are incorporated by 8 reference herein. 9 10 Section 2: The City Commission hereby authorizes and directs the City Attorney to file a lawsuit II naming the City and those any individual Members of the Commission (in their official capacity) who 12 choose to participate, as plaintiffs, seeking declaratory and other appropriate relief to challenge the 13 Onerous Preemption Penalties contained in Section 790.33, Florida Statutes, based upon any 14 appropriate legal theories, including those set forth above. 15 16 Section 3: The City Commission invites and urges other local governments and elected officials to 17 join the City as plaintiffs in the lawsuit and to coordinate their efforts with the City. 18 19 Section 4: The City Clerk is directed to distribute this Resolution to all local governments in Broward 20 County. 21 22 Section 5: The appropriate City officials are authorized to execute all necessary documents and to 23 take any necessary action to effectuate the intent of this Resolution. 24 25 Section 6: This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption. 26 27 !!69019v1 Resolution No. 2018-30 Page 3 of 4 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WESTON, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE A LAWSUIT SEEKING A DECLARATION TH.-\T THE PROVISIONS PUNISHING ELECTED OFFICIALS SET FORTH IN SECTION 790.33, FLORIDA STATUTES, FOR VIOLATING THE PREEMPTION RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ARE INVALID, AND INVITING OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO JOIN THE LAWSUIT. I ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Weston, Florida, this 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ATTEST: 10 :~ ;;t(~~-y~ 13~ Patricia A. Bates, City Clerk 14 15 Approved as to form and legality 16 for the use of .. anJr reliance by the 17 City of ~.s(on n Iy, (~ 18 /' .1 ~ / 19 { . 20 ----... 21 Jamie A. C I , City Attorney 22 #69019 \'1 Resolution No. 2018·30 Daniel J. Roll Call: Commissioner Jaffe Commissioner Feuer Commissioner Kallman Commissioner Brown Mayor Stermer yes ~ ~ Pagp 4 of 4 Qltitutipiac ,i 1:'()11 UNIVERSITY FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 28, 2018 Peter A. Brown, Assistant Director (203) 535-6203 Rubenstein Pat Smith (212) 843-8026 FLORIDA VOTERS OPPOSE TEACHERS WITH GUNS, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; SUPPORT FOR 'ASSAULT WEAPON' BAN ALMOST 2-1 Florida voters oppose 56 -40 percent allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns on school grounds, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today. Voters with children under 18 years old in public schools oppose arming school personnel 53 -43 percent. But 51 percent of voters say "increased security at school entrances" would do more to reduce gun violence in schools, compared to 32 percent who say stricter gun laws would do more and 12 percent who say armed teachers would do more to keep schools safe, the independent Quinnipiac (KWfN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Florida voters support 62 -33 percent a nationwide ban on the sale of "assault weapons." In a separate question with different wording, voters support 53 -42 percent a nationwide ban on the sale of all "semi-automatic rifles." Voters support 65 -29 percent "stricter gun laws," with strong support for other gun control measures: • 96 -3 percent for requiring background checks for all gun buyers; • 62 -34 percent for a nationwide ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines that hold more than 1 0 rounds; • 87 -1 0 percent for a mandatory waiting period on all gun purchases; • 78 -20 percent for requiring that all gun buyers be at least 21 years old; • 89 -8 percent for allowing police or family members to petition a judge to remove guns from a person who may be at risk of violent behavior; • 92 -6 percent for banning gun ownership by anyone who has had a restraining order for stalking, domestic abuse or other reasons. "The notion that we are bitterly divided on political matters -the case for past decades - has found an exception to that rule. Florida voters -be they young or old, white or black, man or woman -have a common enemy," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. -IDore- 2/5 \1ount Carmel Avenue, Harnden. CI O()')j8·j908 T 203·')81·S201 f 203·')1-\2·1-\790 \\\\'\V.qll.cdt! Quinnipiac University Poll/February 28, 2018 -page 2 "Floridians are strongly united that more needs to be done to reign in guns, especially the type of gun used this month to massacre 17 people in Parkland," Brown added. "Depending on how questions are asked, large majorities support efforts to restrict gun purchases; to require background checks for buyers and to ban certain types of guns. "These numbers show remarkable agreement across the electorate, the kind not seen very often these days." It is "too easy" to buy a gun in Florida today, 63 percent of voters say, while 28 percent say it is "about right" and 1 percent say it is "too difficult." Florida voters oppose 56 -36 percent allowing local governments to adopt gun laws that are stricter than state law. If more people carried guns, Florida would be "less safe," 56 percent of voters say, while 34 percent say the state would be "safer." Florida's state government must do more to reduce gun violence, 75 percent of voters say, while 18 percent say government is doing enough. Voters give Gov. Rick Scott a split 42 -45 percent approval rating for his handling of the issue of gun violence. Voters disapprove 54 -40 percent of President Donald Trump's handling of gun violence and disapprove 50 -39 percent of the president's response to the Parkland school massacre. Voters disapprove 52 -31 percent of Sen. Marco Rubio's handling of gun violence and give Sen. Bill Nelson a divided score as 36 percent approve and 37 percent disapprove. Voting Rights for Former Felons Florida voters support 67 -27 percent restoring voting rights to convicted felons, other than those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who have completed their sentences. Every listed party, gender, education, age and racial group supports this idea, with support ranging from 50 -42 percent among Republicans to 82 -15 percent among Democrats. From February 23 -26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,156 Florida voters with a margin of error of +/-3.6 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and Colorado as a public service and for research. Visit Iloll.gu.edu or www.facebook.com/guinnipiacpoll Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll. 2 17. Do yOJ scpporl:. or oppose resto~-=-::-:g vot::"ng ~ig~-:=.s :~o ind::" viduals who r.ave cOTrul.i t Led a felony otjer than ~~rder or seXLa~ o~fe~se and comp~eted their sentences? Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA TOl_ 67% 27 6 AGE IN 18-34 79% 19 2 Gun EsEld 63% 31 7 Rep Oem Ind 50% 82% 68% 42 IS 25 8 3 6 YRS ... ........... 35-49 50-64 65+ 62% 66% 65% 32 30 25 6 4 9 DENSITY ............ City S~burb Rural 63% 72% 64% 31 23 28 6 5 8 Wi.JITE ...... COLLEGE DEG Men WorT'. Yes No 63% 70% 66% 63% 32 23 25 31 5 7 9 5 WHITE .... Jllien Worn Wht Blk 59% 69% 6"!lc vO 82% 35 23 28 14 6 8 7 4 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 62% 63% 31 32 6 5 19. Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws in the United States? WHITE ..... . COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Cern Ind Men Worn Yes No Support 6"!lc vO 43% 87% 68% 53% 7 6% 66% 57% Oppose 29 to .J 10 26 41 18 30 34 DK/NA 6 8 2 6 6 6 4 8 AGE IN YRS .............. WHITE ..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Me'l Worn Wht Blk Support 72% 62% 62% 69% 48% 73% 61% 77% Oppose 23 34 31 24 46 22 32 1 a .'-J DK/NA 5 4 7 7 7 6 6 5 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY ............ InPublic HsHld City Suburb Rural Yes School Support 49% 68% 68% 50% 64 % 63% Oppose ';2 27 26 41 33 34 DK/NA 9 4 6 9 3 3 Hsp 62% 35 3 Hsp 73% 23 5 3 20. ~o you suppor~ or oppose reou~r~ng bac~grou~d chec~s for all gun buyers? Wr-L~TE ..... . COLLEGE 1)t:G Tot Rep JeD Ir:d Jl.'en WOITL Yes No Support 96% 94% 97% 97% 95% 97% 96% 98% Oppose 3 5 3 2 4 2 3 2 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS. WHITE. 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Worn Wht Blk Support 99% 94% 95% 97% 95% 98% 97% 91% Oppose I 5 5 2 4 1 2 9 DK/NA 1 ~ 1 1 1 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS GU:J DE]\;SITY. InPublic EsHld City Subilrb Rural Yes School Support 95% 96% 97% 94% 96% 96% Oppose 4 3 3 5 3 3 DK/NA 1 1 1 1. 1 I 21. Do you support or oppose a :JaL~onwide ban on the sale of assault weapons? Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Tot 62% 33 5 AGE IN 18-34 47% 46 7 Gun HsHld 43% 52 5 Rep DeJ.\ :l:nd 40% 86% 62% 53 11 32 7 3 5 YRS ... . . ..... . . . . 35-49 50-64 65+ 5"<9-~O 6~9-~o 76% 43 29 20 4 7 4 DENSITY. City Subcrb Rural 65% 64% 48% 29 32 47 6 3 5 Men WOJ.\ 47% 75% 50 18 3 7 WHITE ..... Men WOJ11. 44% 75% 53 19 3 6 HAVE KIDS <18 WellTE. ..... COLLEGE DEG Yes No 64% 58% 32 37 4 4 Wht Slk 61% 68% 35 25 4 7 YRS InPublic Yes School 50% L09-• J 0 46 46 4 5 Hsp 98% 2 Hsp 64% 32 4 4 22. Do yo~ supporc or oppose a ~a~~o~wide ban on the sale of all sern~-automatic rifles? Support Oppose DK/NA Suppor~ Opoose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Tot 53% 42 :, AGE II\: 18-34 50% 48 2 Gun HsHld 32% 64 4 Rep Dem :::nd 27% 78% 55% 66 19 39 7 3 6 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ Li 1 g, • ~ 0 58% 62% 55 38 31 4 4 7 DENS:::TY. City Suburb Rural 57% 56% 34% 38 38 60 5 5 6 WHITE ..... . COLLEGE DEG Men Worn Yes No 36% 68% 53% 48% 59 26 40 48 5 6 7 5 WHITE. Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp 31% 67% 5C% 66% 58% 65 27 44 33 38 4 7 6 2 4 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 44% 42% 52 52 4 5 23. Do you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of high-capacity ahlmunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets? WHITE ...... COLLEGE O'C'r' I L.JI..::;; Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Worn Yes No Support 62% 39% 85% 65% 48% 75% 64 % 58% Oppose 34 56 14 31 50 20 30 39 DK/NA 4 6 4 3 5 6 3 AGE IN YRS .............. WHILE ... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp Support 57% 54% 66% 72% 47% 73% 61% 74% 65% Oppose 42 43 31 24 51 21 34 26 33 D'</NA 1 3 3 4 2 7 5 1 2 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY ..... . . ..... InPublic HsHld City SubGrb Rural Yes School Support 46% 65% 62% 55% 55% 53% Oppose 50 32 34 40 42 43 DK/NA L 3 t; 5 3 3 5 24. Do you suppor~ or oppose ~rnpos~~g a ~a~da~ory wai~ing period on ali gu~ purchases, so t:.hat everyone who Durchases a gur. m'"s,_ wa:' t a cert:.alr: r:UffiDe.::-of days before taking the gU:l home? Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Tot 87% 10 3 AGE IN i8-34 85% 14 1 GG.:1 HsI-lid 83% 14 2 Rep uem Inc 82% 96% 88% 14 3 10 4 1 2 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 88% 87% 90% 10 11 6 2 2 -:; DENS:=TY. City Suburb Rural 90% 87% 82% 8 11 13 2 2 5 WHITE. COLLEGE DEG Men Worn Yes No 83% 91% 86% 87% is 6 9 l.~ 2 3 5 2 WhITE . . . Men Wom Wht Elk Hsp 81% 91% 87% 93% 90% 17 5 10 7 9 2 4 3 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS i:nPub1ic Yes School 85% 85% 14 i4 1 1 25. Do you support or oppose impos:'~g a ~andatory waiting per:'od on purchases of assault weapons, so that everyone who p~rchases an assauit:. weapon must wait:. a ce.::-tain number of days before taking it home? Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Suppo.::-t Oppose DK/NA To~ 85% J.....:.. 4 AGE IN 18-34 85% 13 2 Gun HsHld 83% :;'4 3 Rep Jerr. 82% 89% 13 7 5 4 YRS. 35-49 50-64 86% 86% 12 9 2 5 DENSITY. City Suou.::-b 88% 85% 9 10 3 6 Iod 87% 10 2 65+ 85% 9 6 Rural 81% 17 2 WHITE. COLLEGE DEG Men \rilom Yes No 8,9-~ 0 89% 85% 84% 15 6 10 11 4 5 5 5 WHITE. Men Worn Wht Blk lisp 79% 89% 85% 89% 89% 17 5 10 10 10 4 6 5 1 - HAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 85% 83% 13 :: 5 2 2 6 26. Do you supDor~ or oppose requ~r~~g ~nd~viduals ~o be 21 years of age or older In order to purchase a gu~? WE~~~ ..... . COLLSGE DEG ToL. Rep DerTl Ind Men Worn Yes No Support 78% 68% 93% 77% 67 % 88% 76% 74% Oppose 20 29 7 22 31 ~o 20 24 DK/NA 2 3 1 2 2 3 2 AGE :::N YRS. WHITE. 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp Support 77% 7=-% 82% 82% 63% 85% 75% 88% 81% Oppose 23 27 17 : 5 35 12 22 12 18 DK/NA 1 2 1 3 2 3 2 HAV!': KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY. InPublic HsHld City SLCburb RLi.ra} Yes School Support 69% 78% 80% 74% 78% 78% Oppose 30 20 19 23 21 21 DK/NA 2 2 2 3 1 1 27. Do you support or oppose al~owing the police or family members to petition a judge to remove gu~s fro2 a person that ~ay be at r~sk for violent behav~or? WHITE ..... . COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Oem Ind Men Worn Yes No Support 89% 86% 93% 91% 84% 94% 88% 92% Oppose 8 8 5 7 12 4 7 5 DK/NA 3 5 :1 2 4 2 5 3 AGE: IN YRS. WHITE. 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp Support 90% 87% 87% 93% 87% 92% 90% 88% 91% Oppose 8 10 9 4 9 4 6 11 7 DK/NA 2 3 4 3 4 3 4 1 2 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY. InPublic l-!sH.~d City Suburb Rura: Yes School SJPport 86% 91% 91% 83% 86% 87% Oppose J.J. 6 6 .:0 .., r'I, 10 ". v DK/NA 3 4 3 1 4 4 7 28. Do you support or oppos~ banni~g t~e possessio~ or purctase o~ a gun if an individuai has had a restraining order fi~ed against t~em for stalking or domestic, sexual, or repeat violence? Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Tot 92% 6 2 AGE IN 18-34 92% 5 3 Gun HsHld 91% 8 J. Rep Oem :ind 91% 96% 92% 7 3 7 2 1 1 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 85% 94% 97% 12 4 2 3 2 1 DENSITY. Cit:y Suburb Rural 90% 95% 93% 7 4 6 2 ~ J. W;-{I'TE. COLLEGE DES Mer: WOIT. Yes No 89% 95% 94% 94% 8 4 5 4 3 1 2 1 .L WHITE. Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp 91% 97% 94% 86% 93% 7 2 4 12 5 3 1 2 2 2 HAVE KIDS <:i8 YRS InPJblic Yes School 86% 86% 10 10 .I; 4 29. Do you think t~at local governments s~ould be allowed to enact: stricter gun laws to meet the needs of their comIC1unities, or should local governments be required to follow state gun laws? WHITE ...... COLLEGE DEG 'Yot Reo Oem Ind Men Worn Yes No Allow stricter laws 36% 20% 52% 38% 29% 43% 40% 3 iSlc _ a Follow state laws 56 71 43 55 64 49 54 62 DK/NA 8 9 5 7 7 8 6 7 AGE IN YRS ... . . . ... . .. . . WHITE ... J.8-34 35-49 50-64 65-'-Men Worn Wht Blk Esp Allow stricter laws 35% 35% 38% 37% 26% 43% 36% 43% 38% Follow state laws 59 60 56 52 67 51 58 57 50 DK/NA 5 5 6 11 7 6 7 1 12 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY ............ InPublic HsEld City SubClrb Rural Yes School Allow stricter laws 26% 36% 40% 29% 34% 31% Follow state laws 69 53 55 67 57 60 DK/NA 6 11 5 Ii 8 9 8 30. Do you think it is too easy to buy a gun in Flo~ida today, too difficulL to buy a gun in Florida today, o~ about right? Too easy Too difficult About right DK/NA Too easy Too difficult About right DK/NA Too easy Too difficult About right DK/NA Tot 63% 1 28 8 AGE: IN 18-34 68% 2 25 4 Gun HsHld 48% 46 5 Rep Oem Ind 38% 89% 64% 2 1 2 50 6 26 11 ,-; 9 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 59% 64% 65% 1 2 37 28 20 3 6 :.4 DSNSITY ........... . City 66% 1 24 9 Suburb Rural 64% 53% 2 1 27 41 7 6 W~ITE ..... . COLLEGE DEG Men Worn Yes No 49% 75% 61% 55% 2 1 2 43 15 29 37 6 9 8 8 WHITE. Men 42% 1 50 7 EAVE Yes 60% 1 34 5 Worn 71% 1 19 9 Wht 58% 1 33 8 '<IDS <18 YRS InPub1ic School 58% 1 35 5 Blk 76% 1 14 9 Hsp 74% 1 19 5 31. !f rno~e people ca~~ied guns, do you think that Florida would be safer or less safe? WEITE ...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Re~ Oem Ind Men Worn Yes No Safer 34% 64% 6% 30% 48% 21% 36% 45% Less safe 56 21 91 58 43 67 52 46 OK/NA 10 15 3 13 8 12 12 9 AGE IN YRS .............. WHITE ..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp Safer 35% 39% 35% 26% 57% 27% 40% 10% 25% Less safe 59 50 56 63 35 61 49 85 63 DK/NA 6 10 8 12 8 13 11 5 12 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY ............ InPublic HsHJ.d City Suburb Rural Yes School Safe~ 5 1i % 32% 33% 43% 37% 38% Less safe 34 59 56 48 53 53 DK/NA 12 10 11 9 9 9 9 32. Do yoc suppor~ OT oppose allowing teac~ers and school o~ficials to carry guns on SChOO.:t groL:.~ds? Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Support Oppose DK/NA Tot 40% 56 4 AGE IN 18-34 32% 66 2 Gun HsHld 57% 38 4 Rep Oem Ina 72% :1% 37% 21 86 60 7 3 3 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65~ 46% 42% 35% 51 55 59 3 4 6 DENSITY. City SLlb'Jrb Hural 38% 38% 50% 58 57 45 3 5 6 WHITt: ..... . COLLEGE DEG Men Worn Yes No 48% 33% 45% 51% 48 63 51 45 4 5 4 4 WHIlE. Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp 59% 39% 48% :9% 27% 37 56 48 78 68 3 5 4 3 5 J-iAVE KIDS <18 YRS rnPublic Yes School 43% 43% 52 53 5 4 33. Which of these do you think would do more to reduce gun violence in schools, havi~g stricter gun laws, ar~ed teac~ers in schools, or increased security a~ school entrances? Tot Stricter gur: laws 32% Armed teachers 12 I!1creased security 5l DK/NA 5 AGE IN 18-34 Stricter gc;n laws Armed teachers Increased security DK/NA 33% 11 54 1 Gun Hsl-lld Stricter gun laws 17% Armed teachers 19 Increased security 59 DK/NA 5 C<.ep Oem Inc 8% 59% 29% 24 12 64 38 53 4 3 7 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 26% 34% 35% 9 16 12 60 45 47 5 5 6 DENSI1Y ........... . City Suburb Rural 30% 36% 26% 12 J2 J6 52 to _ J 52 5 4 6 WHrlE. COLLEGE DEG iV:en Worn Yes No 25% 38% 34% 26% 18 8 16 16 54 48 45 52 4 6 5 6 WHITE. Men Worn Wht 3lk Esp 22% 37% 30% 35% 34% 23 11 16 4 8 52 45 48 55 56 3 7 5 6 3 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 25% 23% l3 14 58 58 4 4 10 34. ~o you approve or disapprove of President TrJ~p's response to che rece~t schooi shooting in Florioa? Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA Tot 39% 50 ~O ArT;' LJ~ IN 18-34 24% 56 20 Gun Hs'-lld 54% 34 12 Rep Oem Ind 75% 9% 34% 14 85 53 ""1 1 ~~ 6 ~2 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 42% 41% 4:% 5 A lJ 52 49 8 7 10 DENSITY. Cic:.y Suburb Rurai 36% 40% 49% 53 52 liO 11 9 WHITE ..... . COLLEGE ::JSG Men Worn Yes No 45% 34% 44% Li OQ-• J 0 44 57 49 38 12 9 8 13 WHITE. Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp 55% 39% 46% 13% 34% 33 51 43 77 55 12 9 10 11 11 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS In:c>ublic Yes School 38% 35% 50 51 12 14 35. Do you ~hink Congress is doing enough to reduce gun violence or do you think Congress needs ~o do more to reduce gun violence? WHIlE. COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep De~ Ind Men Worn Yes No Qoing enoCigh 16% 28% 2% 16% 22% 10% 16% 20% 00 more 79 63 98 78 71 86 78 70 O'<:/NA 6 10 6 7 4 6 10 AGE IN YKS. WHITE. .. 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp Doing enough 17% 17% 17% lO% 26% 12% 18% 3% 13% Do more 81 76 78 84 64 82 74 97 84 DK/NA 1 7 5 6 11 6 8 3 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY. InPublic '-lsHld City Suburb Rural Yes School Doing enough 25% 1 ..., 0 ..L.i-o 16% 25% 18% 19% ~o more 67 83 80 65 78 77 DK/NA 8 5 I; JO 4 I; 11 36. Do you ~hink f~oritia's s~ate governmen~ is tio~~g enough ~o retiuce gun vio~ence or tio you think florida's state governmen~ neeas to tio more ~o reduce gun vio!ence? Doing enm.:gh Do more DK/NA Doing enm.;gh Do more DK/NA Doing enough Do more DK/NA ToL. 18% 75 6 AGE IN 18-34 14% 8J 5 G·un Esi-Lld 28% 64 8 Rep Oem 32% 3% 58 96 10 YRS. 35-Lj9 50-64 2~% 21% 7t, 74 5 5 DENSITY. Cj. ty Suburb 15% 17% 79 77 6 6 :Lnd 18% 75 7 65+ 14% 78 8 RG.ra~ 29% 64 8 Men Wom 26% 11% 67 83 6 6 Wl-L::TE ..... . COLLEG2 DEG Yes No 18% 75 7 24% 68 8 WHIlE ..... ]V;en 3l% 62 6 Worn 13% 80 8 Wht 21% 72 7 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Yes 22% 76 3 InPublic School 21% 76 3 Blk 3% 95 1 Hsp 80 3 37. Do you think that the NRA, or Na~ional Rifle Association, supports policies that are good for ~!orida or supoorts policies that are bad for ~lorida? Good baG DK/NA Good Bad DK/NA Good 3aG DK/NA Tot 35% 50 16 AGE IN 18-34 26% 58 16 Gun HsHld 55% 31 H Rep De'E Inc 64% 9% 30% 17 81 53 19 10 17 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 37% 39% 30% 40 52 55 23 9 15 DENSITY. City Suburb RLl:cal 30% 33% 52% 51 57 31 20 10 17 Men 48% LA .U 12 WHITE. Men 55% 35 10 WOIT! 23% 58 19 Wom 29% 56 15 WHI~E ..... . COLLEGE DEG Yes 37% 51 12 Wht 1119-• ~ 0 46 13 No 45% 42 14 Blk 18% 66 16 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Yes 36% 45 20 InPublic School 36% 42 22 Hsp 24% 52 24 12 38. (~~tro 038-42: For each of the ~ol~ow~~g, please tell me II you approve or disapprove of their handling of t~e issue of gun violence.) Do you approve or disapprove of -?resident Trump's ~andling of the issue of gun viole~ce? Approve Djsapprove D."C/NA Approve Di.sapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove D."C/NA iot 48% 54 5 AGE IN 18-34 28% 61 11 Gun HsHld 56% 38 6 Rep Ce:Tl ~:1d 75% 10% 35% 18 88 59 8 2 7 Y'<.S. 35-49 50-64 65+ 43% 43% 39% 51 55 56 5 3 5 D1::1\SIT'(. City Suburb Rural 35% 42% 48% 58 55 44 6 3 8 WHITS. COI,::"SGE DEC; Men Worn Yes No 48% 33% '<;4% 50% 46 61 53 42 5 6 3 8 WHITS. Me:1 Worn Wht Blk Hsp 58% 39% 47% 17% 35% 36 56 47 79 61 6 5 6 4 4 EAVE KI:JS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 42% 42% 53 53 5 5 39. Do you approve or disapprove of -Gover:1or Scott's handling of the issue of gun vioience? Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Di.sapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/l'iA Tot 42% 45 13 AGE IN 18-34 32% 46 22 Gun HsHld 57% 32 12 ReD Den: Ind 68% 21% 38% 21 71 '<;3 11 8 10 .l.~ ~::; YRS. 35-49 5C-64 65+ 40% 45% 45% 44 49 43 16 6 13 DENSITY. City SUDGrb RU1:'al 42% 39% 49% 44 OJ' 0V 34 14 11 16 WHITE ..... . COLL:t::GE DEG Men Worn Yes No 48% 37% [.19-_ ~ 0 51% 41i 46 48 33 9 17 11 16 WHITE. Men Worn Wht Bll< Hsp 54% 39% 46% 32% 37% 37 44 41 61 47 9 17 13 7 16 EAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes Schoo~ 4 I 9-~ 0 42% 45 0 14 14 13 40. Do you approve or disapprove of -the sca~e legis~a~~re's handling of the issue of gun vlolence? Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA Tot 22% 59 19 AGE IN 18-34 23% 53 24 Gun HsHld 30% 46 24 I~ep DeIT. Ina 35% 9% 2~% 38 83 59 27 8 20 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 27% 24% 15% 56 61 64 :16 ~5 21 DENSITY. City Suburb RLl~al 21% 21% 30% 60 65 43 ~L 9 15 27 WHITE ..... . COLLEGE DEG Men Worn Yes No 38% 15% 21% 2"<90 ~ 0 53 64 61 54 17 21 :1.8 23 WHITE. Men Worn Wht Blk Esp 31% 15% 22% 22% 22% 52 62 57 72 58 17 23 20 6 19 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 26% 26% 55 54 19 20 41. Do you approve or disapprove of -Senator Rubio's handling of the issue of gun violence? Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Jisapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA Tot: 31% 52 17 AGE IT\: 18-34 25% 55 20 G-CD HsHld 39% 41 19 Rep Dern :::nd 52% 1,90 ~O 30% 24 81 50 24 6 19 YRS .............. 35-49 50-64 65+ 36% 34% 28% 48 55 53 16 11 19 DENSITY. City Suburb Ru~al 29% 33% 34% 55 53 42 16 14 24 WHITE ..... . COLLEGE DEG Men Worn Yes No 38% 26% 35% 33% 48 56 52 42 14 19 14 24 WHITr:: .... !Vien Worn Wht Blk Esp 44% 26% 34% 29% 25% 40 53 47 63 62 16 22 19 8 13 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 35% 35% 49 50 16 15 14 42. Do you approve or disapprove of -Senator Ke:son's handling of t~e issue of gun violer;ce? Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA Approve Disapprove DK/NA lot 36% 37 28 AGE IN 18-34 27% 32 ~ ~ .J. Gun HsHld 3' 0 ~i5 41 28 Rep Oem Ind ~; 7 % 57% 33% c Cl :J~ 24 31 29 ::'8 36 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65-'- 34% 39% 40% 33 42 37 33 19 23 DENSITY. City S-ubClrb R'-~' U-,--G-L 35% 36% 35% 36 38 36 29 26 29 W'1EE ..... . COLLEGE DEC Men WOIT'. Yes No 33% 38% 38% 32% 43 30 36 38 24 31 25 30 WiETS . . . Men Worn Wht Blk Hsp 32% 38% 35% ;---: 0 ,:)1.""6 29% 45 31 37 33 38 24 31 28 15 33 EAVE KIDS <18 YRS InPublic Yes Sd:ool 35% 31% 34 36 31 33 43. If you agreed with a candidace for United Scaces Senator on other iss-ues, but no~ on t~e issue of g~n laws, could you still vote for thac candidate, or would you definitely noc VOLe for that candidate? Yes/StiLL vote No/Not vote DK/NA Yes/Still vote No/Not vote DK/NA Yes/Sti 11 vote No/Not vote DK/NA Tot 47% 42 4 , .;..J. AGE IN 18-34 50% 41 9 HsHld 53% 37 10 Rep Oern Ind 58% 33% 51% 29 59 38 13 8 1 - YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 50% 47% 42% 39 44 43 11 9 14 DENSITY. City Suburb Rural 46% 51% H% 42 40 43 12 9 = 1 WHITE. COLLEGE DEG Men Worn Yes No 52% 43% 45% 50% 38 45 42 40 10 13 13 11 WHITE. Men WaIT'. Wht Blk Hsp c..~9-~~O 42% 47% 50% 50% 38 44 41 45 36 9 14 12 6 13 HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Ini:lubl:.c Yes School 46% L; 6% 41 42 13 13 15 44. If you agreed with a candida~e [or gover~or o~ other iss~es, but not on the iss~e of gun laws, coulc you s~ill vote for t~a~ candicate, or would you definitely not vote for that candidate? Yes/Still vote Ko/Not vote DK/NA Yes/Still vote No/Not vote DK/NA Yes/Still vote No/Not vote DK/NA Tot Rep 'Jem Ind 46% 58% 32% 50% 44 31 60 40 10 11 8 10 AGE 1K YRS. 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ 49% 50% I!. OSl-• J 0 4 C% 43 40 45 48 9 10 6 12 Gun DENS=~Y ........... . HsHld City Sub~rb Rural 51% 39 10 45% 45 10 49% 42 10 48% 44 8 WEITE. COLLEGE DEG Men Wom Yes No --0 J~i5 43% 45% 47% C 46 46 44 8 11 10 9 Wi-lITE. Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp 52% 40% 46% 51% 51% 40 49 45 43 37 8 11 10 6 12 HAVE "(IDS <18 YRS InPubl~c Yes School 49% 50% 38 38 13 12 45. Has the rece~t ~ass shooting ~ade yo~ ~ore likely to s~pport stricter g~n laws, less likely to support stricter gun laws, or hasn't it had an impact either way? More likely Less .likely No impact D~/NA More likely Less likely No impact DK/NA More l~ kely Less likely No irn.pact iJK/NA Tot 56% 6 35 3 AGE IN 18-34 51% 5 41 3 Gun HsHld 42% 9 44 Ii Rep uem :=n.d 40% 79% 52% 11 3 6 44 18 "2 5 1 YRS. 35-49 50-64 65+ 52% 54% 62% 5 8 4 41 35 29 .L 3 4 DENSITY. City Sdbc:rb K;Jral 59% 56% '-;8% 6 4 13 33 38 36 3 2 3 WHITE ..... . COLLEGl': DEG Men Wom Yes ]\io 45% 65% 50% 5C% 8 5 5 7 45 27 44 39 2 3 2 4 WHITE. Me:-, Wo:n Wht Slk Hsp 37% 60% 50% 77% 62% 7 5 6 6 5 52 32 4:'. 15 30 3 3 3 2 3 HAV2 K1iJS <18 YRS InPublic Yes School 54% 55% 7 9 36 34 2 2 16 46. Is being the victim of a mass shooting something you personally worry aboc~ or not? WHITE ..... . COL~EGE DEG Tot ~ep DeIT, :;:nd JV:e'1 Worn Yes No Yes/Worry 42% 37% 53% 38% 33% 50% 31% 39% No 57 62 45 61 66 49 68 60 DK/NA 1 2 -1 1 1 ~ AGE IN YRS. WHITE . . . 18-34 35-49 50-64 657 Men Worn Wht 31k Hsp Yes/Worry 54% 53% 38% 31% 26% 42% 35% 51% 6l% No 45 46 61 68 74 56 64 45 39 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 L1 ~ HAVE KIDS <18 YRS Gun DENSITY. InPublic HsHld City Suburb Rural Yes School Yes/Worry 34% 48% Li ~ 9-• ~ 0 30% 52% 52% No 65 52 58 68 47 !J7 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 2 2 17 NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXP:RES TO FILE REhEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DISPOSED OF. NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC., UNIFIED SPORTSMEN OF FLORIDA, INC., W. DAVID TUCKER, SR., and JOHN DOE, Appellants, vs. CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, Appellee. Opinion filed March 20, IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA THIRD DISTRICT JANUARY TERM, A.D. 2002 ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 2002. CASE NO. 3001-1027 LOWER TRIBUNAL CASE NO. 00-17530 An appeal from the Circui t Court of Miami-Dade County, Thomas S. Wilson, Jr., Judge. Montero, Finizio, Velasquez & Reyes (Ft. Lauderdale); Stephen P. Halbrook (Fairfax, Virginia), for appellants. Nagin, Gallop & Figueredo and Earl G. Gallop, for City of South Miami; Paul F. Hancock, Deputy Attorney General; Parker D. Thomson, Special Assistant Attorney General; Michael J. Neimand, Assistant Attorney General, as amicus curiae for Attorney General Robert A. Butterworth, for appellee. Before COPE, FLETCHER, and RAMIREZ, JJ. FLETCHER, Judge. The Ka~ional Ri~le Association and others have appeale6 the Miami, conclL:iding that this action for declaratory judgment is not ripe for determination . Involved is City of South Miami ordinance 14-00-1716, regulating firearms by establishing certain safety standards therefor. The declaration the appellants are seeking includes a determination that the City's ordinance is ul tra vires because the legislature expressly preempted the entire field of firearm and ammuni tion regulation by enactment of section 790.33, Florida Statutes (2000). This statute reads in pertinent part: " (1) PREEMPTION. -Except as expressly provided by general law, the Legislature hereby declares that it is occupying the whole field of regulation of firearms and ammunition, including the purchase, sale, ~ransfer, taxation, manufacture, ownership, possession, and transportation thereof, to the exclusion of all existing and future county, city, town, or municipal ordinances or regulations relating thereto. Any such existing ordinances are hereby declared null and void. (3) POLICY AND INTENT. (a) It is the intent of this section to provide uniform firearms laws in the state; to declare all ordinances and regulations null and void which have been enacted by any jurisdictions other than state and federal, which regulate firearms, ammunition, or components thereof; to prohibi t the enactment of any future ordinances or regulations rela ting to firearms, aIl1J.lluni tion or components thereof G.nless specifically authorized by this section or general law; and to require local jurisdictions to enforce state firearms laws. " In Penelas v. Arrr.s Technoloay, Ir;c., 778 So. 2d 1042 (Fla. 3d DCA), 2 rev. denied, 799 So. 2d 218 (Fia. 2001), this court specifically stated that the legislature, through section 790.33, has indeed expressly pree~pted the entire field of firearm and aM~unition regulation. Authority for the state courts to render declaratory judgments regarding municipal ordinances may be found in section 86.021, Florida Statutes (2000): "Any person whose rights are af=ected by ~unicipal ordinance may have determined any question of validity arising under such. . municipal ordinance and obtain a declaration of rights thereunder." In the recent Florida Supreme Court decision construing Chapter 86, Florida Statutes, Olive v. Maas, 27 Fla.L.Weekly S139 (Fla. Feb. 14, 2002), the court made it clear that the Declaratory Judgment Act is to be liberally construed. The court cited and quoted from X Corp. v. Y Person, 622 So. 2d 1098, 1100 (Fla. 2d DCA), rev. denied, 618 So. 2d 212 (Fla. 1993): "The goals of the Declaratory Judgment Act are to relieve litigants of the common law rule that a declaration of rights cannot be adjudicated unless a right has been violated and to render practical help in ending controversies which have not reached the stage where other legal relief lS immediately available. To operate within this sphere of anticipatory and preventive justice, the Declaratory Judgment Act should be liberally construed." Here we have various well-~cea::-:.ing litigants eye-ball to eye- ball across counsel table, the Ci ty wondering whether its ordinance 3 has been preemp~ed or whether it can enforce its own collective will over firearms, others wondering whether they are going to be illegally prosecuted by the Ci ty come next dove hunting season, and the Florida Attorney General wondering whether the judiciary will agree with his opinion on municipal regulation of firearms (AGO 2000-42). In light of these doubts and confrontations and in the liberal spirit of the Declaratory Judgment Act, we hold that this action is not premature and that the trial court erred in entering its final sUIDlclary judgment for the City. We also hold that the City's ordinance no. 14-00-1716 is null and void as it is in conflict with section 790.33, Florida Statutes. We remand this case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent herewith. Reversed and remanded.