UPDATE: During the city council meeting the council members voted to be apart of the the lawsuit. The cities' attorney now has the go ahead from cities officials to join the around a dozen South Florida cities already suing the state.
It will cost $10,000 in legal fees to join.
At Tuesday night's meeting, Boca Raton city councilman Jeremy Rodgers voted nay, saying, "I’d rather take a wait and see approach. This is moving with or without us and there’s a cost to our tax payers in going forward with it so I don’t plan to support this at this time."
Mayor Susan Haynie said, "The State of Florida needs to stop preempting local government. We are the closest level of government to the people. We are here 24/7 for our residents and it’s important that we have the ability to govern."
Boynton Beach will consider joining this lawsuit next Tuesday, April 17th at their council meeting.
EARLIER:
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The city of Boca Raton will discuss joining other southern Florida cities in a lawsuit against the state of Florida.
A state law to pre-empt local gun regulations was passed in 1987, but changes made in 2011 threatened local officials with removal from office and fines of up to $5,000.
The cities want the power to regulate firearms locally without paying a fine or losing elected officials.
The lawsuit filed against Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and others says the law is invalid and unconstitutional.
Weston is leading the charge and nine other cities have joined.
“I think we need to see change especially after what happened, I don’t think anyone should be able to have access to an assault rifle or something that turns a normal rifle into one,” said Zac Lessman.
Lessman said he is all for the city of Boca Raton to join the lawsuit, “The more people that are involved the more it is heard and change will happen.”
Gun manufacturer San Szalkowski said he opposes the move.
“We have a Second Amendment; the federal government controls the Second Amendment, it is not the city council's job to go and try to get around the state laws and federal laws,” he said.
Others think state law is the easiest way to enforce gun laws.
“I think we need more gun regulation but not city by city,” said Georgia Monserrat.
Boca Raton would be the first city from Palm Beach County to join the lawsuit.
The city council will vote if it wants to join the lawsuit during a meeting Monday evening.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
