Board to consider gun-control ballot measures

A Broward County board will consider defying the state and giving county voters a chance to regulate what guns are allowed in the county.

The shooting deaths of 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School led the Charter Review Commission to call a special meeting Friday at the request of board member Cynthia Guerra, a former head of the county’s Republican Party.

The 19-member commission has the power to propose amendments to the county charter for voters to consider in November.

The state says only it has the power to enact gun laws and any local officials passing regulations in conflict with the state can face severe fines and removal from office.

“I think the person that requested this item understands the statute … They still want to have the discussion,” said Carlos Verney Jr., the commission’s executive director.

The commission will consider firearm regulation measures, including:

Ban on assault or assault-style weapons;

Ban on high-capacity magazines;

Ban on the sale and transfer of devices designed to alter a firearm so that it fires automatically or simulates automatic fire;

Ban on gun shows on county-owned property.

The commission, which recently determined it would not ask voters to consider a county mayor elected countywide, has been wrapping up its work and preparing for public hearings in March on other proposed county charter amendments.

Verney said the commission’s general counsel has offered no advice so far on the legality questions of any gun measure, only to pass along the state statute.

“To a certain extent, those [legal] questions can only be answered by the governor’s office,” Verney said.

The meeting will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Room 430 of the County Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.