FBCC offers sympathy, but avoids specifics to reduce gun violence

Reporter - News Analyst

March 1, 2018 8:24 a.m.

Fernandina Beach Mayor John Miller called a Special Meeting of the City Commission (FBCC) for February 27, 2018 to consider passing a lengthy, detailed Resolution supporting specific gun control measures in the wake of the Parkland shooting. What they eventually passed on a 4-0 vote was a watered down, general statement of sympathy for the victims of gun violence that contained no specific endorsement of gun control measures laid out in the original resolution.

City Hall Chambers were comfortably full of people who, for the most part, were supportive of the more strongly worded Resolution. Three former mayors were in attendance, only one of whom – Sarah Pelican -- opposed any resolution that might infringe upon Second Amendment rights. Ten speakers addressed commissioners, two of whom expressed complete opposition: Pelican and Andy Curtin. Christine Corso expressed opposition to only one part of the lengthy resolution, which would move gun regulation from the state to local government.

Mayor John Miller explained that the mayor of Sunrise, FL, had provided the original draft resolution with the intent of enlisting support from mayors around the state, who would then march on Tallahassee to demand action from the Legislature. After the meeting, Miller explained that the first resolution was lengthy because the drafter wanted to give cities the option of excluding portions at their discretion.

The FBCC listened patiently to the mostly pro comments from the audience on the draft resolution. However, following public input and commission discussion, it quickly became apparent that the resolution as written would probably fail on a 2-2 vote. Vice Mayor Kreger did not attend the meeting.

Instead commissioners voted to unanimously support a substitute resolution which did not address the key points of the original resolution: requiring a background check for every firearm sale; raising the age for legal purchase of firearms, magazines and ammunition to 21; and supporting the passage of legislation that would keep military-style weapons and high capacity magazines away from schools.

Commissioner Phil Chapman, a retired science teacher, expressed support for the original resolution. “I’ve asked and asked why anyone would need an assault rifle,” Chapman said. “It’s not like there are large groups of people trying to break into your house. The answer from them who own such weapons is ‘they’re fun to shoot.’ ” Chapman suggested that fun could be achieved in many other ways. Chapman spoke to the ease of obtaining weapons for high school students. “I think that trying to restrict the weapon of retaliation is not a bad thing,” Chapman said. He said he was most upset when the President advocated arming teachers.

“Teachers aren’t paid for that kind of work,” he said. “If you train a teacher, what will the weapon be? Will it be a concealed weapon? I wonder how many of us would be willing to take a concealed pistol against someone with an assault weapon. … Will we now say that teachers must wear bullet proof vests? Head to toe body armor?”

Chapman also said he found it interesting that the President said he would go into the building to confront the shooter. “This is the man who for the rest of his life will be surrounded by Secret Service protection. I don’t think he really has to worry about confronting an armed person in a school.”

“I support this resolution wholeheartedly,” Chapman asserted. “I think we all need to remember a phrase: the COMMON good. Part of that is the ability to make it from kindergarten to graduation and not get killed. I hope that those of you who have concerns about your guns being taken away work with everybody. It’s not like we are going to round up all these weapons. People talk about how it’s a mental health issue. I would like to know how many dollars the NRA contributed for passing mental health legislation compared to how much money they’ve spent keeping people who support guns in office.”

The audience applauded his comments.

Commissioner Chip Ross

In weighing public comments against the original resolution, Commissioner Chip Ross concluded that despite his first hand knowledge as an emergency room physician who has had to deal with the aftermath of shootings, he could not support the resolution. Ross explained that he strongly supports a ban on military style assault weapons and high capacity magazines, because of his experience over 40 years in treating gunshot wounds, dealing with the fallout to families, and having to commit people under the Baker Act and similar state laws in Maryland because he deemed them a threat to themselves or others. “My personal opinions,” he said, “are radically different from some in our community who have spoken tonight.”

To the dismay of vocal audience proponents of the measure, Ross explained that he could not support the Resolution because it had not been adequately vetted or analyzed. He felt that in the 30 minutes allowed for the special meeting, there was not sufficient time to address all the points raised in the resolution.

Commissioner Roy Smith

Commissioner Roy Smith repeated comments he made at the end of the last FBCC meeting: the way to change gun laws is at the ballot box. “You can either support it through the ballot box, or you can vote against it,” Smith said. “Really, that’s the only way we have. We need to get concerned groups out at elections.” Smith agreed with Ross that the 11-page resolution under consideration went into too much detail. “I think if we’re going to do something, we need a much simpler resolution,” Smith said. “Personally, if I’m a politician at [a higher level of government] and I get in a thousand resolutions that look like this one that say exactly the same thing, it’s like mass production. I believe we should do it with a much simpler resolution like the alternative one before us tonight.”

At the request of the Mayor, City Clerk Caroline Best read a statement from Vice Mayor Kreger, who was not able to attend the meeting. He wrote:

I support strong gun control laws along with all the necessary laws and procedures to eliminate violence. I recommend the city manager immediately establish appropriate coordination with Nassau County Sheriff, the Nassau County School District to provide assistance in ensuring our public and private schools along with other public venues are as secure as possible. I also recommend that the City Manager provide an update of ongoing measures and an outline/plan of actions initiated at the 6 March 2018 FBCC Meeting.

Smith asked that the alternative resolution be read to the public.  City Attorney Tammi Bach read the alternative resolution prepared by City Manager Dale Martin following input from commissioners:

RESOLUTION 2018–26

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, OFFERING SYMPATHY TO THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND IMPLORING STATE AND FEDERAL ACTION TO PREVENT FUTHER INCIDENTS THEREOF.

WHEREAS, the Nation was again sadly rocked by an act of gun violence in a horrific shooting in a Parkland, Florida high school, resulting in the deaths of seventeen students and staff; and

WHEREAS, the action of state and federal officials to address the factors that likely contribute to gun violence, such as mental health, background checks, and access to guns, has been woefully inadequate; and

WHEREAS, due to state statutes, federal regulations, and the United States Constitution, the ability of the City of Fernandina Beach to address the aforementioned factors is constrained.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT:

SECTION 1. The City Commission hereby offers its deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of victims of the Parkland, Florida, tragedy, as well as to the victims and their families of previous incidents of gun violence in schools, churches, government facilities, and elsewhere.

SECTION 2. The City Commission implores state and federal officials to take the necessary and appropriate action and provide related funding to curtail, and hopefully eliminate, incidents of gun violence, believing that action is long overdue.

SECTION 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage and be provided immediately hereafter to the state and federal officials who represent the City of Fernandina Beach in Tallahassee, Florida, and Washington, D.C., respectively.

ADOPTED this 27th day of February, 2018.

CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH

Ross moved to approve the alternative resolution and received a second from Chapman.

Before calling the vote, Mayor Miller apologized for the length of the original resolution. He called the alternate resolution a good start. “Everyone can agree that something needs to be done,” he said. “I along with others saw the teenagers of our state travel to Tallahassee and raise their voices. … I think it’s crazy that a 19 year-old can walk into a gun store and buy an assault weapon with a high capacity magazine without any background check, when you have to be 21 to buy a handgun. We say all the time that public safety is our number one issue, and that is what we should be concerned about. … We are responsible for our law enforcement officers. When they have to walk into a building knowing that someone has a weapon ten times more powerful than theirs that can kill them, I think we can protect them better as well.”

“I want this to be a unanimous vote,” Miller said. “It sounds like the only way it can move forward is to go with the alternative resolution.” The vote on the alternative resolution was 4-0 in favor, none opposed.

Public Reaction

Former Mayor Commissioner Sarah Pelican

Most members of the audience had supported the initial resolution that called for specific anti-gun violence measures. Only Sarah Pelican and Andy Curtin  opposed the matter on the principle of the Second Amendment, citing both fears of gun confiscation and suggesting that city commissioners restrict their calls for action to local matters over which the city has some control.

Other speakers, such as Tony Crawford and former Mayor Ron Sapp, stressed that there was nothing in the resolution suggesting that people’s guns would be taken away from them. Crawford, in urging support for the resolution, said that the saddest day for the country was not 9-11, but the day of the Sandy Hook shooting. He said that there was a reason that media did not show pictures of the murdered children. “When a bullet goes through a kid, there is nothing left to see,” Crawford said. “There is something wrong when kids stand up, not the parents.”

Former Mayor Ron Sapp

Sapp reminded commissioners that he teaches government and history. He said that things have changed since the adoption of the Second Amendment in 1791 with respect to weaponry. As opposed to using guns for personal defense or to defend the country, he said that the new military style assault weapons are designed “to kill as many as possible in as little time as possible.” He said that such weapons do not belong in our community. “I teach at the local high school, and I teach the Second Amendment,” Sapp said. “I am a father, a grandfather. But at the very base of everything, I am a human being. And I just can’t imagine a time in which we are sitting here talking about whether or not we should allow these assault weapons in our culture.”

Other speakers echoed similar sentiments: Lynn Williams, Medardo Monzon, Phil Scanlan and Lori Hemke.

Christine Platel

Christine Platel, who was visibly upset as she spoke, issued a call for action.   She said that on March 14 the Women’s March on Washington Youth Power has organized a 17-minute walkout in protest over gun violence (#Enough: School Walkout). On March 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the City Marina there will be a sister march in support of the national movement to end gun violence. She advised that there is local Facebook forum – March for Our Lives Support Group, Amelia Island – for discussions about ending gun violence in America.

She said, “Our children are now leading the way.”

Editor's Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne's many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.