Florida’s failure to ban assault weapons has angered some local officials, but they have few options for recourse. Some are taking the issue to voters, while others are challenging a state law that bans cities from passing gun laws.

This article by Natalie Delgadillo appeared in Governing, March 20th, 2018.

After the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., last month left 17 teenagers and school staff members dead, local politicians have had enough with the state telling them what they can and can’t do.

Under Florida law, cities and counties are prevented from enacting their own gun laws. Officials who try to enforce local gun legislation face up to a $5,000 fine and removal from office.

In response to the shooting, which sparked a nationwide push for gun control, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill two weeks ago that bans rapid-firing bump stocks, raises the age limit for gun purchases to 21, allows some teachers to carry guns and institutes a three-day waiting period for gun purchases. Notably absent from the bill, however, was a ban on assault weapons, which is gun control advocates’ biggest priority since most mass shootings involve them.

With no power to pass their own gun laws, local officials who want stricter gun laws are turning to the ballot box and the courts to get them. MORE…