10 Florida mayors sue for right to implement their own gun laws

Ten mayors in South Florida are suing the state in an effort to gain the right to implement their own gun laws in their cities.

Mayors from cities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties — including Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Miramar — are taking part in the lawsuit, according to ABC Local 10 News.

Florida cities and counties are not currently allowed to enact their own gun laws. City leaders who don’t abide by state law can face up to a $5,000 fine.

{mosads}Mayors are arguing that the consequence is not constitutional.

“The idea that we cannot control our own space to make sure it’s safe for our residents and visitors is astounding,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said.

Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam said his office gets calls every day from people asking him: “What are you going to do?”

The lawsuit comes after a gunman opened fire at a high school in Parkland, Fla., in February, killing 17 people.

Gun control has become a central issue in the country since the massacre, with students demanding that lawmakers pass new laws to reduce gun violence in schools.

Hundreds of thousands of people protested in cities across the country last month in the “March for Our Lives” to protest gun violence and call for action on gun laws.

Last month, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed into law a measure imposing new restrictions on gun purchases in the state.

The law raises the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 18 to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for most purchases of long guns. It also allows for certain trained school employees to carry concealed handguns on school campuses and creates new mental health programs for schools.

But mayors in South Florida are arguing that more needs to be done to keep their communities safe.

A spokesman for Scott said he is looking into the lawsuit.

Parkland, where the Feb. 14 shooting took place, is not part of the suit.