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Home My Public Portal About13-8556 Reduce Gun Violence Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor RESOLUTION NO. 13-8556 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, URGING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA AND HELP PREVENT FUTURE MASS SHOOTINGS THROUGH PASSAGE OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 137, "THE FIX GUN CHECKS ACT OF 2013", WHICH WOULD REQUIRE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR EVERY GUN SALE AND ENSURE THAT ALL CRIMINALS AND OTHER DANGEROUS PEOPLE WHO ARE PROHIBITED FROM BUYING A GUN ARE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM; FURTHER URGING CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION STOPPING THE SALE, TRANSFER, IMPORTATION AND MANUFACTURE OF ASSUALT WEAPONS AND LARGE AMMUNITION MAGAZINES, DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIAL DESIGNATED HEREIN; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System ("NICS") is an effective tool to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous individuals, and this system has blocked 1.9 million illegal gun purchases and permit applications in the past two decades; and WHEREAS, despite this success, NCIS is undermined by legal loopholes and missing records that enable too many dangerous individuals to obtain weapons they later use in crimes; and WHEREAS, April 2007, Seungh-Hui Cho killed 32 people at Virginia Tech; January 2011, Jared Loghner killed six and wounded 13; July 2012, James Holmes, (semi-automatic) killed 12 people and injured 58; August 2012, Wade Michael Page (semi-automatic) killed 6 people, injured 3; and December 14, Adam Lanza, (semi-automatic) shot and killed 27 people, including 20 children; and Resolution No. 13-8556 WHEREAS, in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, Virginia and other states have submitted hundreds of thousands of new mental health records into the NICS database, yet 21 states and the District of Columbia have each submitted fewer than 100 mental health records since the Virginia Tech massacre; and WHEREAS, under Federal law licensed gun dealers are mandated to conduct NICS checks before proceeding with a sale, but this requirement does not apply to so-called private sellers who are present in large numbers at gun shows and sell guns over the interne; and WHEREAS, more than 12,000 Americans are murdered with guns every year, and the overwhelming majority of these crimes are committed by individuals who are barred from purchasing or possessing guns under Federal law; and WHEREAS, House Resolution 137, the "Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013", has been introduced in the United States Congress, and this legislation would address the two major flaws in the nation's gun background check system by improving compliance with federal record reporting requirements, and by requiring background checks for all United States gun sales; and WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Opa-locka, hereby accept and strongly supports House Resolution 137, the"Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013". NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals to the preamble herein are incorporated by reference. Section 2. City Commission of the City of Opa-locka, urges immediate passage of House Resolution 137, the "Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013", in the United States Congress, and support immediate passage of legislation stopping the sale, transfer, importation and manufacture Resolution No. 13-8556 of assault weapons and large ammunition magazines, strips and drums that hold more than to rounds. Section 3. The Clerk is authorized to transmit a copy of this Resolution to all members of Florida's Congressional Delegation, and to President Obama's Administration. Section 4. The Opa-locka City Commission, echoing the call of gun violence survivors and family members, calls on both President Obama and the United States Congress to put in place concrete reforms to reduce gun violence nationwide and help prevent future mass shootings. Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of Fe, . , 201 . 0:' • TA OR MAYOR • est to: .11 Jo a Flores C y Clerk Approved as to form and legal u , ciency:/0 I 111 A_• Jo ry 6'` eller G EN "OON MARDER PA Att• ey Moved by: COMMISSIONER JOHNSON Seconded by: COMMISSIONER HOLMES Commission Vote: 4-0 Commissioner Holmes: YES Commissioner Johnson: YES Commissioner Santiago: YES Vice-Mayor Kelley: OUT OF ROOM Mayor Taylor: YES Joanna Flores From: Olivera, Rosemary[ROlivera @miamigov.com] Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 12:55 PM To: Blachar, Joni D.; Block, Richard; Burgess, Jon; Cabrera, Jr., Rafael; Caplan, Franklin; Corradino, Joseph M.; Cubillos, Claudia V.; De La Cruz, Yioset; Diaz, Jose; Diaz, Jose M.; Garcia, Zavier M.; Garcia-Martinez, Isis; Gilbert, Ill, Oliver; Gongora, Michael; Gonzalez, Luis; Gort, Wifredo(Commissioner); Harris, Walter A.; Holloway, Dr. Wilbert T.; Jacobs, Noah; Klepach, Bernard; Kligman, Michelle; Leonard, Jordan W.; Lerner, Cindy; Lusskin, Judy; MacDougall, Edward; Maldonado, Elvis R.; McCoy, Jim; Muhina, Eduardo H.; Pizzi, Michael; Robinson, Felicia; Shiver, R.S.; Stanczyk, Shelley; Steril, Marie Erlande; Suarez, Francis (Commissioner); Myra L. Taylor;Vallejo, George;Weithorn, Deede Subject: Consideration and Support of Resolution 13-0043 Attachments: R-13-0043.pdf Importance: High On behalf of the City of Miami Commission, I am transmitting to you a cover letter and a copy of Resolution 13-0043, which the City Commission passed and adopted at its meeting on January 24, 2013. Resolution 13-0043 "...urges immediate passage of House Resolution 137,the 'Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013' in the United States Congress." Further, Resolution 13-0043 "...echoing the call of gun violence survivors and family members, call on both President Obama and the United States Congress to put in place concrete reforms to reduce gun violence nationwide and help prevent future mass shootings." The City of Miami greatly appreciates your consideration and support of Resolution 13-0043. Sincerely, YY - Todd B. Hannon City Clerk 1 "' City of Miami City Hall c�� ,►,, , 3500 Pan American g s_` Drive Legislation Miami,FL 33133 Jk •`� www.miamigov.com ` Resolution: R-13-0043 File Number: 13-00034 Final Action Date: 1/24/2013 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA AND HELP PREVENT FUTURE MASS SHOOTINGS THROUGH PASSAGE OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 137, "'THE FIX GUN CHECKS ACT OF 2013,"WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A BACKGROUND CHECK FOR EVERY GUN SALE AND ENSURE THAT ALL CRIMINALS AND OTHER DANGEROUS PEOPLE WHO ARE PROHIBITED FROM BUYING A GUN ARE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM; FURTHER URGING CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION STOPPING THE SALE,TRANSFER, IMPORTATION AND MANUFACTURE OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE AMMUNITION MAGAZINES; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS DESIGNATED HEREIN. WHEREAS,the National Instant Criminal Background Check System ("NICS") is an effective tool to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous individuals, and this system has blocked 1.9 million illegal gun purchases and permit applications in the past two decades; and WHEREAS, despite this success,the system is undermined by legal loopholes and missing records that enable too many dangerous individuals to obtain weapons they later use in crimes; and WHEREAS, it is estimated that state and federal agencies have failed to report more than one million records of persons with dangerous mental illness into the NICS database; and WHEREAS,on April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech with guns that were legally purchased in violation of federal law because of Virginia's inadequate background check requirements; and WHEREAS, on January 8, 2011, Jared Loughner, a person with a reported history of drug abuse and serious mental illness and should have been in the NICS database but was not,allegedly killed six people and wounded 13 others, including United States Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords; and WHEREAS, on July 20, 2012, James Holmes, using a semi-automatic rifle and other guns, allegedly shot and killed 12 people and injured at least 58 others in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, using some of the thousands of rounds of ammunition that the shooter had recently purchased online without any background check; and WHEREAS, on August 5, 2012, Wade Michael Page, using a semi-automatic handgun, allegedly shot and killed 6 people and injured 3 others at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek,Wisconsin; and City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File Id:13-00034(Version:1)Printed On:2/7/2013 File Number:13-00034 Enactment Number:R-13-0043 WHEREAS, on December 14,2012, Adam Lanza, using two semi-automatic handguns, shot and killed 27 people, including 20 children, six school employees at Sandy Hook Elementary School; and WHEREAS, in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings,Virginia and other states have submitted hundreds of thousands of new mental health records into the NICS database, yet 21 states and the District of Columbia have each submitted fewer than 100 mental health records since that massacre; and WHEREAS, under federal law licensed gun dealers are mandated to conduct NICS checks before proceeding with a sale, but this requirement does not apply to so-called private sellers who are present in large numbers at gun shows and sell guns over the Internet; and WHEREAS, more than 12,000 Americans are murdered with guns every year, and the overwhelming majority of these crimes are committed by individuals who are barred from purchasing or possessing guns under Federal law; and WHEREAS, House Resolution 137,the"Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013,"has been introduced in the United States Congress, and this legislation would address the two major flaws in the nation's gun background check system by improving compliance with federal record reporting requirements, and by requiring background checks for all United States gun sales; and WHEREAS, more than 50 national organizations support closing gaps in the gun background check database and requiring a background check for all gun sales, including the United States Conference of Mayors, National Urban League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Police Executive Research Forum; and WHEREAS, House Resolution 137, the"Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013," is strongly supported by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a national, bipartisan coalition of more than 800 mayors,who represent more than 58 million Americans; NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The Miami City Commission urges immediate passage of House Resolution 137, the "Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013"in the United States Congress. Section 3. The Miami City Commission urges immediate passage of legislation stopping the sale, transfer, importation and manufacture of assault weapons and large ammunition magazines, strips and drums that hold more than 10 rounds. Section 4. The Miami City Commission, echoing the call of gun violence survivors and family members, calls on both President Obama and the United States Congress to put in place concrete City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File Id:13-00034(Version:1)Printed On:2/7/2013 File Number:13-00034 Enactment Number.R-13-0043 reforms to reduce gun violence nationwide and help prevent future mass shootings. Section 5. The Miami City Commission and Mayor Tomas Regalado will join with domestic violence prevention advocates,faith leaders, law enforcement officials, and other elected officials to make clear that failure to strengthen gun laws at the national level will continue to fuel gun violence in big and small cities throughout the country. Section 6. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to all members of Florida's Congressional Delegation, and to the Obama Administration. Section 7. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.{1} Footnotes: {1} The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all requirements that may be imposed by the City Attorney, including but not limited to those prescribed by applicable City Charter and Code provisions. {2} If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission. City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File Id:13-00034(Version:1)Printed On:2/7/2013