Florida: Leon County Commissioners Didn't Come Up with this on Their Own

DATE:   November 7, 2013
TO:      USF & NRA Member and Friends
FROM:  Marion P. Hammer
            USF Executive Director
            NRA Past President

Folks keep asking us where this Leon County proposed gun show ordinance came from?  Folks want to know which Commissioner dreamed it up.

What follows is a "Cliff Notes" version of where it came from.

It's all a matter of public record.  It came from a private sector attorney named Roy F. Blondeau, Jr. who was obviously promoting an anti-gun agenda.

Last April (2013), in an email to Commissioners Maddox, Desloge and Daily, Attorney Roy F. Blondeau Jr. asked Commissioners to pass the ordinance.  Attorney Blondeau even attached a draft ordinance apparently drafted by Mr. Blondeau based on the Palm Beach County gun ordinance.  That is where it started.

Commissioners then did what they routinely do -- they forwarded it to the County Attorney to review and report back. 

At the October 29 meeting the County Attorney submitted a report (Agenda item 14). 

Staff's recommendation was that the Commission "accept the status report regarding firearm regulations and gun shows."  The staff did not recommend any further action.

It would have been over at that point had it not been for Commissioner Mary Ann Lindley's decision to pursue passing what she is calling a "gun show loophole" ordinance based on the recommendation of one person -- Attorney Roy F. Blondeau, Jr. 

The unwise assault on gun owners in Leon County rests on the shoulders of Commissioner Lindley.

The culpability of any other commissioner can be determined by how they have reacted since October 29.  That, and the action they take going forward, is on them.

Below is the email pulled from the public record that started this movement.

"Roy F. Blondeau Jr."
[email protected]
4/15/2013 10:03 AM

Hon. Commissioners Maddox; Desloge and Dailey and Administrator Long,

Thank you all for attending Thursdays Village Square event on speed meeting your local leaders.  We appreciated your interest and support on our proposed county ordinance on closing the gun show 5-day loophole. Leon County should take a stand on this issue in an attempt to protect its citizens from further acts of mass violence like occurred in Newtown and Aurora. I am attaching a copy of the proposed ordinance for your review.

As a former federal prosecutor, I am knowledgeable about the federal and Florida firearms laws. I have been in discussions with the County Attorney's Office about this proposal to try to obtain their consent to the legality thereof. I believe it is, in fact, in accordance with Florida law. We will advise you of their position once we obtain it.

Thank you again and if we can be of further assistance, please respond.

Roy Blondeau
Attorney at Law
(850) 877-9599