10 more cities join gun lawsuit against Florida

Fort Lauderale and Boca Raton are among 10 Florida cities that have joined a lawsuit against the state, seeking the power to regulate firearms.

The cities want the right to make stricter laws, following the Parkland school massacre, said Jamie Cole, Weston’s city attorney, who has led the charge. Now, for example, guns are prohibited in city chambers, but governments don’t have the right to ban them from the lobby of city halls or public parks.

On Feb. 14 in Parkland, gunman Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and wounded 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. And in 2016 in Orlando, gunman Omar Mateen carried out the Pulse nightclub massa- cre, killing 49 people and leaving dozens more wounded.

“With the Parkland incident, the Pulse incident, you’ve got residents thoughout the state of Florida who are very unhappy and they want the cities to have stricter rules,” Cole said.

The cities are challenging a 2011 state statute, which was backed by the gun lobby, that outlines penalties for elected officials who try to enact local gun laws. The penalties include a $5,000 fine for elected officials, removal from office, as well as cities left on the hook for lawsuits from gun owners.

“The intent of the penalities — which are unprecedented — is to chill local officials for taking any measures, even reasonable ... measures,” Cole said.

“By having these onerous penalties, cities [are] scared to do anything.”

In addition to Boca and Fort Lauderdale, the other municipalities that joined the lawsuit Tuesday are Key Biscayne, North Miami, Surfside, Tallahassee, Orlando, Gainesville, St. Petersburg and Maitland.

That brings the total number of participating cities to 20. The original 10, which filed the lawsuit in April, are Weston, Miramar, Pompano Beach, Pinecrest, Lauderhill, Miami Gardens, South Miami, Cutler Bay, Miami Beach and Coral Gables.

The suit also names the governor and the attorney general.

Weston’s lawsuit of 20 cities is one of three in the works now.

Broward County also has sued the state, questioning the constitutionality of the penalties that discourage local officials from passing the type of measures they believe are within their rights.

A third lawsuit filed by four cities including Coral Springs — where many of Douglas students live — argues the 2011 law violates the state and federal constitutions.