Kriseman considers lawsuit over gun laws
ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - St. Petersburg's mayor is the latest elected official to express interest in a lawsuit that would change Florida gun laws in a way that would give each city more control.
Mayor Rick Kriseman says he is interested in joining 10 other mayors from South Florida in a lawsuit that challenges state leaders over a law that he says prevents his city from making their own gun laws.
"We would like to be able to have a say over what happens in our communities," Kriseman told FOX 13 Friday after attending a mayor’s conference in Orlando on the issue earlier in the week.
A state law, passed in 1987 bans cities and counties from passing their own gun regulations.
"[In St. Petersburg] we'd like to be able to take a look at high capacity magazines and armor piercing bullets," Kriseman said.
In 2011, the law got even tougher, by threatening local leaders who try to pass gun regulations with a $5,000 fine or removed from office.
“We risk getting removed from office for even talking about it,” Kriseman said.
He is asking city attorneys to take a look at the suit to see if St. Pete will join in.