Important headlines for April 3rd
Bottom Line: These are stories you don't want to miss and my hot takes on them...
Excerpt: Some cities want to undo a Florida law that prevents them from passing local gun-control laws.
They’re challenging a 2011 state statute, backed by the gun lobby, which outlines penalties for elected officials who try to enact local gun laws, including a $5,000 fine and the prospect of being removed from office.
The cities are suing Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other state officials, alleging that the Florida law is invalid and unconstitutional.
The lawsuit states the governor should not be able to remove an elected official for violating the firearm rules because it “is not tantamount to an indictment for committing a crime.”
Hot Take: So, the truth continues to slowly play out. After already having comprehensive gun control pass in Florida recently, many municipalities are now pushing for additional action at the municipal level. What's notable is the opportunism. I've regularly cited research from January that demonstrated that 60% of Americans approved of additional gun control and 28% of Americans would approve of the repeal of the 2nd Amendment. I cited those as relevant in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas because many in public offices had desires above and beyond what we were hearing pertaining to the initial calls for additional gun control. While I don't believe that public policy that affects all citizens should necessarily be crafted to address a specific tragedy, it's worth noting that the reforms passed at the state level would have theoretically prevented Nikolas Cruz from carrying out the attack as he did.
It's notable that no action by any of these municipalities would have. In other words, this is all political opportunism and if any of these municipalities were that disturbed by state law, why didn't they sue well before now? What's the actual desired end game? The current municipalities that are part of this suit are all in South Florida:
- Coral Gables
- Cutler Bay
- Lauderhill
- Miami Beach
- Miami Gardens
- Miramar
- Pinecrest
- Pompano Beach
- South Miami
- Weston
Republicans' Opportunity With Hispanic Voters Wilson & McGoldrick, FOX News
Excerpt: Personal choice, competition and freedom are all themes that resonate with Hispanic voters.
Hot Take: I don't, in general, appreciate the oversimplification of using the characterization of "Hispanic" - as we know in South Florida that can mean about thirty different distinctions. However I do think the values of personal choice, competition and freedom are values that all people should be able to rally behind. Upward mobility, a government that gets out of the way and allows opportunity - these are traditional American ideals
Until tomorrow...