A Memorial Day weekend shooting at a rap concert in Miami has prompted calls from two local law enforcement officials for more gun control, even though it is unlikely any new gun laws will deter the perpetrators of such crimes.
According to WPEC, the local CBS affiliate, police were still searching for the three suspects who opened fire on the crowd, killing two and injuring 20 others. Miami-Dave Police Department Director Alfredo Ramirez III declared at a news conference, “These gun-violence driven murderers…they’re targeting individuals and hitting innocent people that have nothing to do with their beef. Ruining families. Harming mothers.”
Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo, quoted by The Independent, appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation, asserting, “It’s just an indication of the problem we have with the scourge of gun violence in this country that we need to do much more at a federal level to stop.”
Likewise, the parent of a 2018 Parkland high school shooting victim, who has become an outspoken gun control advocate, criticized the Florida governor for opposing gun control efforts, and for signing state preemption legislation.
.@RonDeSantisFL, empty statements from you no longer work for me. You have fought against efforts to prevent gun violence & your signing of a preemption law punishing cities who try to pass gun safety measures only ensures we are at greater risk. I had hoped for more from you. https://t.co/lOpt03w5zk
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 31, 2021
Acevedo demanded so-called “universal background checks,” though there is no evidence such a requirement would have prevented the concert shooting. He also wants burglarizing gun shops to be a federal crime with mandatory sentencing, while there is no indication the guns used in Sunday’s shooting were stolen from a gun store.
The Washington Examiner noted Acevedo, who has a history of supporting gun control, “also took the time to rail against Texas for passing a bill that would allow residents to carry handguns without a permit.” Acevedo used to be the Houston police chief.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to sign the legislation.
Recently, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation strengthening Florida’s preemption statute, which prohibits local governments from adopting strict municipal gun control ordinances. State preemption laws are designed to make gun laws uniform from one state border to the other. Many municipal governments dislike such laws because they prevent anti-gun city administrations from passing stricter, and sometimes conflicting, local gun control laws.
On Tuesday, NBC news reported that Miami authorities “are offering $130,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible” for the shooting. A security camera caught the scene as three unidentified suspects exited a car outside the scene of the early Sunday shooting. The car was reported stolen May 15, and was later recovered from a canal in Golden Glades.
According to NBC, the $30,000 is for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Businessman and television personality Marcus Lemonis reported put up the other $100,000 if the information leads to convictions.
It is not clear if there was a motive for the deadly shooting.
