This story has been updated with comments from Mayor Andrew Gillum.
Mayor Andrew Gillum is facing a lawsuit after he and members of the 2014 city commission declined to repeal a local gun ordinance prohibiting the use of guns in local parks. The move came after the state passed legislation to preempt local rules, with the aim of creating uniform gun regulations in each county. Gillum says he feels the state overstepped its bounds.
“You elect local government officials because you want them to make the decisions that are necessary to govern local communities. It used to be a strong philosophy held by the Republican Party that is now in control of the legislature that government that is closest to the people is government at its best,” Gillum says.
But Gillum says he’s seen several examples lately of the state government passing legislation that would preempt local control. He says it’s unconstitutional and a slippery slope. Gillum is using the case to launch a campaign pushing for greater recognition of home rule. The case is heading for the First District Court of Appeal Tuesday.
______________________________________________________________
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and members of the city commission are expected to appear in court Tuesday to defend a 2014 decision in which the commission refused to repeal a local gun ordinance banning the use of guns in local parks.
The move came after the state passed legislation aimed at creating uniform gun rules in each county—requiring local governments to real their rules. In a blog post, Gillum says he and other members of the commission are pushing back against state governments preempting local rule. The issue is now heading for the First District Court of Appeal.
Read his post here:
