Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has already been quite clear about what he thinks of a Florida law that blocks all local regulation of guns, saying last week it made the state "look like a bunch of knuckleheads" that he can ban squirt guns inside what is now being called the "event zone" in Tampa, but he can't ban handguns.
Buckhorn has said he intends to reach out directly to Governor Rick Scott to allow the city an exemption from that state law, at least during the last week of August when tens of thousands of people, who in some cases severely disagree with each other, will be rubbing shoulders during the Republican National Convention.
On Thursday, Tampa City Council member Lisa Montelione presented to the council a letter she wrote backing up Buckhorn's requesting that the Governor issue either an Executive or Emergency Order allowing the city to opt out of the law, at least during the convention.
Montelione said she had consulted with four different city attorneys, past and present, before presenting her letter to the council for their approval. Councilman Harry Cohen made some suggestions that Montelione said she would adopt before sending the letter out.
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2012.
