Fort Lauderdale to allow guns at parades

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 5 (UPI) -- A new Florida law that bans local gun control means Fort Lauderdale officials must allow guns at parades and other public events, city officials said.

The state law imposes fines on public officials who enforce local gun laws, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Wednesday.

The city, in response to the new state law, changed a local ordinance that forbids weapons at parades and local events. Now, guns are allowed but knives are not, the report said.

"Sometimes the Legislature does things I don't agree with, but they passed a law and we are complying with that law," Mayor Jack Seiler said.

The city also dropped an ordinance that makes it illegal to discharge a weapon within the city limits. City Attorney Harry Stewart said the state will instead use a state law that prohibits the reckless discharge of a firearm.

The Broward County Commission voted Tuesday to seek legislation allowing the county to keep its local gun regulations, the newspaper said.