HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1998-059 1
RESOLUTION NO. 69-98
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DANIA, FLORIDA, URGING ALL
MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT PASSAGE
OF HOUSE BILL 3551, WHICH IS INTENDED TO UPGRADE THE CRIME
OF THE DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM IN PUBLIC FROM A FIRST
1 DEGREE MISDEMEANOR TO A THIRD DEGREE FELONY; AUTHORIZING
AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT CERTIFIED COPIES
OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BROWARD COUNTY
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND
THE BROWARD COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES; FURTHER, PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
I
j WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Dania, Florida has been requested
by District 93 State Representative M. "Mandy' Dawson-White to support her in the
passage of House Bill 3551, which was recently introduced by Representative Dawson-
White; and
WHEREAS, HB 3551 is designed to escalate the penalty for the improper discharge
of a firearm in public, from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony; and
i
WHEREAS, a public awareness campaign has been undertaken by Ms. Veronica
Bower of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who, on New Year's Eve, 1996, was the victim of a
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bullet wound due to the celebratory firing of a firearm during the holiday; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Bower has undertaken to institute a campaign in Florida referred
to as "Falling Bullets Kill", modeled after a similar campaign recently used by the City of
New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the success of the City of New Orleans, predicated on strong penalties
for the public discharge of firearms, especially in conjunction with holidays such as the
- -1 RESOLUTION NO. 59-98
tow
it
Fourth of July, New Year's Eve, and the like, has, coupled with a corresponding public
awareness campaign, reduced the number of bullets fired into the air on New Year's Eve
by eight-five percent (85%); and
WHEREAS, Representative Dawson-White is enlisting the support of the City of
Dania and other communities to continue the momentum begun by Ms. Bower and her
Florida "Falling Bullets Kill" campaign, by ensuring that members of the public who
irresponsibly celebrate holidays by the discharge of firearms will find that such conduct will
be severely punished; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Dania, Florida, wishes to lend its
support to the efforts of Ms. Bower and Representative Dawson-White to spread the
campaign message, not only to the citizens and inhabitants of Dania, but to all surrounding
communities so that the needless tragedies associated with such celebrations are put to
an end; and
WHEREAS, as was recently recounted in an editorial in the Sun Sentinel
newspaper, stray bullets fired during holiday celebrations injured two men this year in the
City of Delray Beach while last year, in Miami, stray bullets were responsible for killing a
five-year old child and injuring a police officer; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Dania, Florida, believes that
I
passage of an upgraded penalty will help to deter such irresponsible conduct;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA, FLORIDA:
-2- RESOLUTION NO. 59-98
^� Section 1. That the City Commission of the City of Dania, Florida, urges each and
every member of the Florida Legislature to adopt House Bill 3551, sponsored by District
93 State Representative M. "Mandy" Dawson-White, to upgrade the penalty for the
i discharge of firearms in public, from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony.
Jl Section 2. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to furnish certified copies of this
Resolution to all members of the Broward County Legislative Delegation, as well as to the
Florida League of Cities, the Broward County League of Cities, Representative Dawson-
White and Ms. Veronica Bower.
Section 3. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to take such actions as may
be necessary and desirable to enlist the support of the community in the campaign of Ms.
Veronica Bower in her "Falling Bullets Kill" campaign, so that the message is clearly
delivered to the citizens and inhabitants of the City of Dania, Florida.
1
Section 4. That this resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately upon
its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 14TH DAY OF PRIL, 199 .
MAYOR-COMMISSIONER
�ST:
CLERK-AUD OR
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
CITY ATIORNEY
GAWPFILESMATANIATIREARMS-DISCHARGE ORRES
04/08/88/3
-3- RESOLUTION NO. 59-98
.� CITY OF DANIA
MEMORANDUM
Via E-Mail
TO: CHARLENE SALTALAMACCHIA, Administrative Aide
COPY: MICHAEL W. SMITH, City Manager
FROM: THOMAS J. ANSBRO, City Attorney
j DATE:APRIL 8, 1998
RE: RESOLUTION REQUESTED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE
M. "MANDY" DAWSON-WHITE REGARDING DISCHARGING
FIREARMS IN PUBLIC
Following is a copy of the resolution I drafted, as you requested. As I mentioned to you in
our conversation this morning, it may be advisable to see if the City Manager or the Mayor
j would want to invite Ms. Veronica Bower of Fort Lauderdale to the upcoming City
Commission meeting when the resolution is discussed and read for adoption. Following
are copies of correspondence I received from the State Representative's office, which
clearly show that Ms. Bower, a victim of such crime, is the motivating force for the
upgrading of the criminal penalties for the conduct at issue. As I also mentioned to you,
this may be a good opportunity for the City to both show its support for Ms. Bower's "Falling
Bullets Kill" campaign, as well as to "get the word out"to our citizens and inhabitants. Also
following are copies of material I received from the State Representative's office discussing
the legal ramifications of the House Bill, in case any of the Commissioners have concerns
about its impact in any one or more respects.
Please contact me if you have any comments or questions.
TJA/nd
Aft.
GMPFILESMA\DANIA\Firearms-Discharge Of-ORD-MT C Salta.M01
I
04/09/98 1EU 09:11 FAX 79801.1.7 BRINKLEY MCNERNEY ,LLF la002
i
plorids House of Reporesentadves
Muriel "Mandy"Dawson-white
Reply to: o r1r 7ne apm
17 oftesomws"W TMMMwb Ft.7r�90
p amlon' fjL3=1 (MJ480,109t FAX COVER SHEET
To: Nancy< wvft
Far,# 954.52"123
From:Debmh c 9WO
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DaWApW 7. 1998
Re:farm Wlem ki9
idAgas fortbe MIAl(efar Carer rbff#' 2
Ofilieafa (8551{87.43311SUNCON45343,31
pkasa aontat t as fl ym bare"f reeein4tk sped Ned number of ptyiss.
This is the "Man that bought this issue to our agw t o. she maybe helpful to you.
' G04MG1S' RO� ��� napul�• ��oraMlatt►�
APR-09-1998 10:04 7660117 P•02
04/0g/88 THU 00:11 FAX 7680117 6RINJrtEY ac'rERNEy ,LLP f�i00J
OCT
Olt'r011ICa 800ver
150d NE 2nd Av.
Ft.Lauderdale, Fl.33304
1 September 18, 1997 N 763.1(169 w r
State Repredfeniarm AAarldy Dawson
612 N. Atldrewr,Avenue �,�•^
Ft.Lauderdale, FL 3=1
RE: Florida Statute 790.15 DiSChargintg(rearm In public
Dear Repmsentallve Dawson:
I have4equest which I know you can handb, Around 10:00pm on NatwurYpeaes Eve 19M 1 was
stendi ��fleleea. Aft�ceteb�re t�ogathe New Year at rofw�ard Germ. INlea sha>�I
r hu6el ditcherged into the air had come dawn Irdo my shoulder. fuly oollarhons Was
IratAUred and chipped and the bullet embedded kr my[Olsten ttrtl meads. A few weeks later, the
bullet was stGgicelly removed. It Is now[ranging from a chain araurxl my neck as a rrrrri►der of
how kreky I am to be oBve to tell mY story,
AMN researching this Irresponsible crime, I was wry distraught to loam that discharging a firearm
In prbk is ordv a first deWw mWaineanor If you are sober 7A0.1s(1),a second dogma
mfsdorneanor R you we under the in k e rce 790.151 and a seoond felonry J you are Ina
vehicle 790.1 2). So, A the Police were We lo apprehend the Irdivddlual resporsible for
shooting M.sft would more than fikely Woolve a Glop on the artist. Even If slhe vvere charged
the maximum parhaAy is one year In jell and up to a$1,000 fine d Sober or up to aD days in jail and
a fine not exceeding$=k under the kdttuence.
Not much of a deterrent for individuals celebrating New Year's with"e BA NO".
I am spearheading a public awareness campaign known as"Falfltg Butiats Kill". This cam kin
kSta!
ing mode alter the vary srJoa"sstul"Fa Ballets KIIr cafflpeigft curerrlJy tAlAzed In�I�ew
t7rdytwo
risohent R.S. 14;9q). Now this Ins a detardent,ao much so, that New Orleans has reduced Ihhe
number of buNets teed irdo the air an New Year a Eve by t1596.
Now the mystpry request...upgradkg Florida State Statute 790.15 discharging firearm in puWk:to
a felony. Any assistarice you provide will be greatly appreciated.
sir5prely,
Veronica Bower
I
RPR-09-1998 10:05
7660117 P.03
_1
Florida Rau" of Reprosentativos - 199a HB 355,
BY Representative Dawson-white
1 l bill to be entitled
2 6n act relating to discharging firamrms in
3 public; amending s. 794.15, F.S.) reclassifying
4 fron a misdemeanor of the first degree to a
5 felony of the third degree the offense of
i
6 knowingly discharging a firearm in any public
7 place, on or over the right-of-way of a paved
8 public road, highway, or street, or over
9 occupied prosimenj providing psaaltiesj
10 providing enhanced penalties for habitual
11 affeadarsj providing exceptions; conforming a
12 refereacej providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 790.15, Florida
17 Statutes, is amended to read:
1! 790.13 Discharging firoarn in public.--
19 (1) Escept as provided in subsection (2) or-subsection
20 (Si, any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any
21 public place, or on or over the right-of-way of any paved
22 public road, highway, or atrest, or shoseover-knowingly
23 disebaeges-amp-flroaereeer-lhe-rigbt-ol-way-el-any-paeed
24 public-reads-highwayl-or-street-or over any occupied promises
25 fignow in-smilty-of a felony misdemeanor of the Sid first
26 degree, punishable as provided in a. 775.082, or a. 775.083,
27 0r s. 775.M. This section does not apply to a person
23 lawfully defending life or property or performing official
29 duties requiring the discharge of a firearm or to a person
30 discharging a firearm on public roads or properties expressly
31
1
CODING: Deletions we e6riakem; additions are undrrlinad.
Florida Rouse of Representatives - 1994 IS 3551
507-139-98
1 approved for hunting by the Game and Frank Rater Fish
2 Commission or Division of Forestry. 1
3 (2) lay Occupant of any vehicle who knowingly and
4 willfully discharges any firearm from the vehicle within 1,000
S fast of any person commits a felony of the second degree,
6 punishable as provided in a. 773.042, s. 775.063, or a.
7 773.084.
a (3) Any driver or owner of any vehicle, whether or not
9 the owner of the vehicle is occupying the vehicle, who
10 knowingly diraets arty other person to discharge any firearm
11 from the vehicle commits a felony of the tbird degree,
12 punishable as provided in a. 773.082, s. 773.063, or a.
13 773.084.
14 Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1 of the
1S yoer in which onseted.
16
17 ssssasasssasassamss»sasmsssssmassssnnss
18 HOUSE SUMMARY
19
Reclassifies from a misdemeanor oft the first degree to a
20 felony of the third dyree the Oftesse of knowingly
dischargging a firearm is any public place, an or over the
21 right-cf-;:cy of a paveli pubaio road, highway, or street,
ar Over occupied promisms. Provides penalties, including
22 enhanced penalties for habitual offenders.
23
24
25
26
27
26
29
30
31
2
CODINSt Deletions ore o4rinkan; additions are underlined.
�crNty
I � �
r
Y a
y m
P�UYIII.
Florida House of Representatives
Muriel "Mandy"Dawson-White
Reply to: 21M GApi�ol
❑ 33 N.E. Second Street Tallahassee,FL 32399
Ft. Lauderdale,FL 33301 (904)466- '
(954)4674317
March 20, 1998
i
I
Ms. Marie Jabalee
City Clerk
City of Dania
100 West Beach Blvd.
Dania, FL 33004
Dear Ms. Jabalee:
This letter is written to request your assistance in bringing attention to an important issue
in our community.
I have sponsored HB 3551, which addresses the discharge of firearms in public. Attached
I, for your perusal is a copy of the bill and an editorial. Specifically, this bill upgrades the crime of
discharging a firearm in public from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
I am respectfully requesting a resolution passed by the City supporting HB 3551. Your
assistance would be greatly appreciated in this very important community issue.
With kind regards,
M."Mandy" Daws -White
State Representative
District 93
MDW:pb
Attachment
COUNCILS: Responsibility/Govemmental Rules and Regulatons.andards& IProeduraVReapportionatory Reform(Vice 'r Governmental
Government ServiceslHealth Care ment
__
24A Sun-Sentinel, Tuesday, March 9, 1998 C
Sun-Sentinel
I)edrcated to being the nia.rt valued it formation provider in South Florida.
ROlfRT CaIMILLICII I1tNLIIN WALri IAnt MAUCRIIi ILLS"SORTID R I UR RIAI ER IMCILII'CUYI IN
Iflll 191I1'R (it NI RAI MANAGIR I:nnUR
EDITORIALS
. . . educate fools who shoot at sky
by letting them think in jail cell
person doesn't need the Mandy Dawson-White
braiopower of an Isaac Newton to ReI?
know that what goes up must come wants to make reckless
slow"• felo
ny.
firing of a gun a
AUnfortunately,some gun owners
are either tou dulub to understand the
principle of gravity, or they don't care that
tiring guns into the air can kill innocent misde anor.Mandy Dawson-White wants to
bystanders on the ground. a
on New Year's Eve at the stroke of uP+h_ ante, and has filed a bill that would
midnight, hundreds of bullets are shot make it a felony to recklessly fire a gun in
skyward by South Florida revelers. White areas where people might be hurt.
most of the bullets fall harmlessly,some The measure deserves the support of every
strike human flesh. member of the Legislature. A person would
Two men were injured this year in Delray be less
knows to firegun Iin the hini l first ping ace
Bench Last year in Miami,stray bullets killed y result
five-year-old and injured a police officer. time.
Finally, people are saying' Enough." The measure also deserves the backing of
Veronica Bower of Furl Lauderdale, also the National Rifle Association.The gun-
wounded last year by a stray bullet, has lobbying organization claims that the way to
helped launch a campaign called "Falling cut down on firearms violence is to crack
Mullets Kill."The program is designed to down on criminals,and the random and
educate people on the dangers of celebrating reckless discharge of firearms in populated
with firearms, and to convince them to find areas clearly is criminal.
other ways to make noise, like ringing bells In New Orleans,a first offender can be
and popping balloons• sentenced to up to two years in jail. A repeat
Criuiestoppers participates in the program, offender can spend from five to seven years in
and offers rewards of up to$1,000 for the stammer, without the possibility of parole.
information that leads to the conviction of a According to New Orleans officials, the stiff
gnu-firing celebrant. penalties, coupled with an intense
Nuw it's time for the Legislature to get into educational campaign, has helped
the act. enormously to curb dangerous,gun-toting
Currently, if a stray bullet injures or kills revelry.
sunleone, the reveler ran be charged with a is pending
the way to goal of the laws of physics, this
felony. If not, the offense is only a
1
I
r
? e
a
r1orija i IoLlse of Representatiyes
Muriel "Mandy"Dawson-White
1
Reply to:
❑ 33 N.E. Second Street ❑ 212 The Capitol
Ft. Lauderdale. FL 33301 Tallahassee,FL 32399
(954)467-4317 (904)488-1084
� January 6, 1998
I
Veronica Bower, Office Manager
j First New England Financial
1600 Southeast 17th Street
Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Dear Ms, Bower:
Thank you for bringing the issue of discharging firearms in public to my attention.
I
I have filed the attached legislation in the House of Representatives per your request for
the 1998 Legislative Session. As soon as this issue is referenced for a hearing, I will contact you.
Again, thank you for sharing your views on this most important issue and I will keep you
informed concerning the progress of this legislation. If you should have any further questions or
concerns, please feel free to contact me.
With kind regards,
M. "Mandy" Dawson- hite
State Representative- istrict 93
MDW:pb
Attachment
COUNCILS: Government Services/Health Care Standards&Regulatory Reform(Vice Chair).Governmental
ResponsibilitylGovernmental Rules and Regulations.ProcedurallReapportionment
I
507-159-98
1 *Ak********A****k********+F***k******k**k*
2 HOUSE SUMMARY
3
4 Reclassifies from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a
5 felony of the third degree the offense of knowingly
6 discharging a firearm in any public place, on or over the
7 right-of-way of a paved public road, highway, or street,
8 or over occupied premises. Provides penalties, including
9 enhanced penalties for habitual offenders .
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
i
I' 1
'Our Mom was hit 'Our Mom was hit
by a fa g bullet by a falling bullet
an New Year's Eve' on New Year's Eve'
4
x
��' 1±,t„� '. ,t �"" ?'''� .�• r row F 'rr.
a .wA
Nick, 10 Angela, 6 Nick, 10 Angela, 6
'We're lucky 'We're lucky
she's alive' she's alive'
A
1
On New Year's Eve, On New Year's Eve,
find a safe way to find a safe way to
make noise. Use bells, make noise. Use bells,
not bullets. Pop
not bullets. Pop
balloons, not guns. A balloons, not guns. A
bullet can travel 2% bullet can travel 2%
miles, and a falling miles, and a falling
bullet can tear into a bullet can tear into a
person at 170 mph! person at 170 mph!
Don't take chances. Don't take chances.
G A NG
FA -,INBU NETS BU METS
Anyone who fires a Anyone who fires a
KIL bullet into the air canKILL bullet into the air can
get a year in jail and a get a year in jail and a
$1,000 fine, so if you ® $1,000 fine, so if you
ohear shots on New hear shots on New
Year's Eve, call 911. Year's Eve, call 911.
Crimestoppers will Crimestoppers will
For posters and pay up to $1,000 for For posters and pay up to $1,000 for
information that leads more information, information that leads
more information, to a conviction, and to a conviction, and
Call 387-4620 you don't have to Call 387-4620 you don't have to
give your name. give your name.
Call 493-8477. Call 493-8477.
1:1 J M Wil1 1 I All
a
tow
i \
i ) C Sun-Sentinel, Monday, 0 -_.oer 15, 1937 '3B
LOCAL
Victim waging war against holiday bullets
�
Mother proves that New Year's Eve gunfire has painful consequences
hurt someone," Crime Stoppers Sgt. Pete Geary Year in some South Florida neighborhoods,but po-
?' By ROBIN BENEDICK said.Ile said the shooters are seldom caught.Crime lice do not Ifnow how many bullets are fired.
.• ,. . SW wM. Stoppers is offering cash rewards of up to$1,000 for Bower,who lives in a middle-class neighborhood
` -"FORT LAUDERDALE — Veronica Bower can anonymous information that leads to an arrest of north of downtown that has struggled to get rid of
still hear the bullet whizzing I'. by her ear before it someone who fires a gun in the air recklessly. crime and blight,said she didn't know at first what..tears into her right shoulder. Bower's program is part of a national campaign, hit her.
`� •` Standing outside her home last New Year's Eve, which started in New Orleans a few years ago after "I grabbed my shoulder, then fell to my knees,
Bower was struck by a.45-caliber bullet thought to a woman died from a bullet fired by a gun-toting screaming,'What hit me?"'Bower said."The burn-
have been Bred skyward by a late-night reveler, celebrant. ing sensation began to turn to extreme pain,and I
That shot could-have struck her daughter,Ange- Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle was in New was unable to move my right arm.My friend notieed
Is,then 5,who was running around the front yard Orleans last year for the Sugar Bowl when he that my hand was covered with blood.
and climbing in and out of a friend's car. learned of the"Falling Bullets Kill"campaign and At the hospital,a police officer told her the but
"I was stunned," said Bower, 35, a bank office told Bower about it. let could have been fired From three houses away or
manager, community activist and mother of two She has been urging state legislators to toughen three miles away,depending on the type of gun and
children."At first I thought a bottle rocket had hit penalties to felony charges for people who fire guns the direction the wind was blowing.
me.When I realized it was a bullet,I found myself into the air. Under Florida law, a person who dis- A few weeks later,she had surgery to remove the
staring into the sky expecting to see someone sus- charges a gun in public can be charged with a mis- bullet from her shoulder.
pended above with a gun in their hand. I truly be- demeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of a -It left a scar. She had eight weeks of physical
lieve God was watching over me and my children year in jail and a$1,000 fine. If the bullet kills or therapy, which enabled her to move her shoulder
because I am very lucky to be alive." injures someone, the charge could be murder or again, but she still cannot do everything she used-
Bower is leading a crusade in Fort Lauderdale to assault. to. I
warn people of the dangers of firing their guns into New Orleans has harsher penalties than Florida. While playing kickball at her 10-year-old son's
the air on New Year's Eve. I � First-time offenders can be fined$1,000 and be sen- school,she tried to throw the ball over her shoulder
She wears the bullet,coated in silver,on a chain tenced to two years in jail. Repeal offenders get a and could not.It dropped.in front of her. I ..
around her neck as she distributes posters and Bi. mandatory five-to seven-year jail term with no pro- With New Year's Eve around the corner,Bower
ers around town. - bation or parole. - - said memories of the shooting are strong and diffi-
She has support from Crime Stoppers, the "Our main emphasis is public education," said cult to handle,but she wants to publicize her plight
staff photolou TOWN Broward Sheriffs Office,the Florida Consumer Ac- Andy Fox, who helped launch New Orleans' cru- to stop someone from being killed.
Veronia Bower,shown with her children,Angela,6,and lion Network,Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic As- sade after his cousin was killed by a stray bullet on Bower has no definite plans for New Year's Eve,
Nick, 10,was hit by a stray bullet lot New Year's Eve. sociations, Citizens' Crime Alert, the city of Fort New Year's Eve in 1994.He said the campaign has but she knows what she will not be doing."I will not
Ilmver has the support of several agencies,Including the Lauderdale and the police department. curbed the number of celebratory gun firings there, be in my front yard."
'troward SheriB's Office and the Fort Lauderdale Police "People don't think that when they fire their guns according to neighborhood surveys. For more information on the campaign, call
Oeparlment,in educating people about holiday gunfire. in the air, that bullet is going to come down and Gunshots have been heard ushering in the New 954-3874620.
tub
OPINION30A Sun-Snntmp.l, Fiday. Drtcmillvl 10,. 1991.--.MS__-
J
yLr11
, o> �N
I
W'
^ F CAMfiDOWN LbAbbIAWE:
SpMEWIIERE? j MIMEOF146
SKUUU LAST
� I
� � a
I
j 14A Sun-Sentinel, Tuesday, December 30, 1907 C _
OPINION
SunSentinei
Dedicated to being the most valued information prouder in South Florida.
ROBEOi OREMILLION KATHLEEN WALTZ EARL MAUCI[ER ELLEN SOETEUER II ININOS'EY GUY
I N
1'Ig1I I'MR CllmLAI\N all It Illlull
Hold your (New Year's f;ve) fire!
moot; New Year's F,vc h'ndilioos, speed. Most of Ihcol cause no harm;soliw of
shouting•'happy New Yca rI'. them dautage properly or woundm'kill the
singing Auld Lmlq Stple, kissing innocent.
ymv date and celebrate ug noisi Aly The problem has become so acute in
are among the most happy and bahceeoI1 rOIli all tliateP.ntolm 112hllffth a tn�totaroid
harmless.one tradition,howcvu•,is sad,
stupid and downright deadly:firing guns into bO oll"11 giug al firearinlin public isa
the air. onlyl
-.+ farts of South Florida have become a real fine and al year lill jail. flat if a'""let "c(l
war none on past New Year's Eves,wdlll I a New Year's reveler hits someone in the
hundreds of people firing thousands of
bullets toward the sky. It happened in places nutnsla Ileeo nes a felony crime,
like Alianti, Ilialcah,Fort Laudel'[INI[•, Even withnol.cridcnec or witnesses,the
Delray Reach an[I Lake Worth.
Un Jusl one block in Mimui last yeor,wore �rci11[lit ouglit�lorhe deterrent enough to
t,
than 1,f11111 bullet casings were found. a'Cid blasting:ova>'.
..`� I?Icctrical transl'oI.11.were hit,knocking
fill.power In the neighborhood far several A nalimneidr ranglnit:u Balled"I tilling
.. hours. Eight buildings wcrc pnclunarkcd the dengerS' II aNnllrlrlic hellplulrilflslalrwt
v,ill] hullels.'I'cu cars were strafed by
1
gunfire.fine police officer was shol and �rlhllli nSlel cs:uul
nll Ill
lnnuhant laws�so Ihe kind lll;d prnplo
wounded by a sniper who used the I'Ilsillmle who Dire guns inlo the ;lir are euwmitlim!
by New Year's revelers to cover his felony crimes.
deliberate allack. nes,"6'hat goes up most
Choi np Gravity
rnDmtlly fall toeFarlll 011 lllivIl cowcldiliv nl�,soug g
}
C Sim.Sentinel, Friday, January 2, 1998 3B
LOCAL
New Year 's gunfire strikes In Delray Beach
In 1996, Bower was shot while stand-
By JSMiDiPAOLA Two men suffer minor injuries; woman s roof is pierced E eouutside her
home on New outlet tore into Year's
DELRAY BEACH—Seymour Epstein studying law enforcement with the The bullet entered his right shoulder About I a.m., the community child- shoulder.
and Haralambos Barakos both started Broward County Sheriffs Office, was and lodged underneath his armpit,said care supervisor returned to her home in Bower said she still has not recov-
1998 with a bang. celebrating on East Atlantic'Avenue police,who called paramedics to trans. the 1000 block of Mango Drive and dis- ered full motion of her arm.
Both were bloodied by bullets appar- when he was struck by a.45-caliber but- port him to Delray Medical Center. covered that a bullet had pierced her After the shooting,Bower joined the
ently shot by revelers. let in the right arm about 12 minutes Doctors there removed the bullet, roof and landed in her hallway. national "Falling Bullets Kill" cam-
Neither man was seriously injured by after midnight. which police said was from a 9 man In all three cases, police confiscated paign to teach revelers that when a bul.
the gunfire that hit them in the arms Paramedics treated and released him weapon. the bullets, let is shot into the air,what comes up,
while celebrating on East Atlantic Ave. at the scene,police said. "The doctors showed it to me in a But a South Florida community activ- must come down.
nue a few blocks apart. Epstein's injuries were more serious. jar,"Epstein said. ist said there is little or no chance that "The experts tell me it's the average,
"Whoever did this and hears that they He thinks he was shot about five min- Aside from the shooting.Epstein and the shooters will be caught. everyday people who are doing this,"
hit a 76ih-year-old man might say he al- utes before midnight while standing his wife said they.had a wonderful time Fort Lauderdale resident Veronica Bower said on Thursday.
ready had his life,"said Epstein, a re- near the Old School Square, where the at the Delray Beach celebration,where Bower has spent the past year promot- 'what they are finding is that people
tired physicist from New Jersey who city was going to display the New Year's they enjoyed a photography exhibit and ing a campaign to get people to stop are not considering what they do."
now lives west of Delray Beach."But if fireworks, a symphony performance. shooting weapons during New Year's Epstein learned of Bower's campaign
it[had]happened 10 minutes earlier,it "It fell like someone pushed me,"Ep- "we're very lucky," Ruth Epstein celebrations. on Thursday,but he wonders whether it
could have hit a 2-year-old kid who was stein said on Thursday. said. National studies show that, depend- will make a difference.
standing next to me. He could have "He kept rubbing his arm and rub- Tanise Wright was lucky,too.She at- ing on the type of weapon and the angle "It's hard,"he said.
been killed." bing his arm,"said Epstein's wife,Bull. so reported that revelers' gunfire had it's fired, a bullet can have an impact "I don't know if you can ever change
Epstein does not know the man who "I took a look at his jacket and saw affected her life early Thursday morn. radius of 2.5 miles—making it almost humanity. But I commend her at-
shared his fate. Barakos, 24, a cadet spots." ing in Delray Beach. impossible to locate the shooter. tempts."
CANADA REPORT'
LAP
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SECTION
V / FRIDAY,
j SEE PAGE 58R JANUARY 2,1998
tale fernO -- --
Nogun deaths this NewYear's
Eve
By ALLISGNKter killed by a stray bullet Iasi January, "This was a good year, there was on the two(lays before the holiday,
Herald Staff Writer had campaigned for a cease-fire. Two Y y.
The rat-tat-tat of random gunfire Broward pawn shops refused to sell ally nothing," said Flullyw°°d "1 slept
still heralded the New Year in parts of bullets. police Lt. Woodrow Lyle. n good last night," said Sar-
han, who operates Martin's Broward
Broward and Dade,but the shots were The message apparently got risMirl'Ianla ion, Wiltonke Pi' Manors, Gles, Sun- un anld Pawn land lis vice presDi lent
more scattered, through.
And, tier a change, no one was Pompano Beach and Coral Springs OI the Florda Pawn Brokers president
hurt. Police agencies in Broward also reported fewer calls about out. uinn. "flo money I turned away is
The only casualty was a cable TV reported no injuries I}our errant hut- of-control revelers firing into the air. irrelevant."
lets. Fort Lauderdale police handled a Sono speculated the cold weather Jerome Starling spent last New
line, which knocked out service for a small hurst of calls about gunfire might have kept gunslingers indoors.
while in a stretch of Northeast Dade Last New Year's, three people were Year's Eve watching hullers fly by his
A Miami-Dade commissioner and n n Not wanting to fuel the fusillade, closed windows as he served burgers
struck by stray Edward Sarhan banned the sale of
Vic-
the uncle of Rickia Isaac, a -year-old rims was a Miami police officer. bulletsat his two Broward pawn shops
_ PLEASE SEE GUNFIRE, 58R
bone re- orted hurt in random New Year's Eve gunfire
GUNFIRE, FROM 16R Carey kicked oli'a"No Stray Bul- Taylor, were wounded. day.
lets" campaign in mid-December "Last year,people were ducking At Sarhan's Broward pawn
and chicken wings to cus- with the same goal in mind. and hiding on the sides of build- shops, employee Victor Morales
tourers in his Overtown restau- Starling is the uncle of Rickia ings at midnight,"Starling said. at first thought the sell-no-bullets
rant. Isaac, the 5-year-old who was Although gunfire was more policy was"silly."
This year he left the windows killed by a stray bullet almost a sparse throughout South Florida But Morales came around when
open year ago when she was walking this year,one bullet did hit a cable he realized many of the 100 peo-
There was gunfire in Overtown back from a parade honoring Mar- TV line, knocking out service ple asking for bullets on Dec. 31
last night, but nothing like last tin Luther King Jr. in Liberty shortly before midnight from probably would have used them to
year,"said Starling,owner of Star- City. Northeast 46th Street to North- ring in the New Year.
ling's One-Stop. There was so much gunfire in cast 85th Street,and North Miami • When we turn people clown,
He attributed the slowdown to Liberty City last year that resi- Avenue to Northeast Ninth Ave- half of them are upset and half of
his campaign — including door- dents likened the shooting to a nue. them are hit in the head with
to-door appeals, street corner pep Vietnam War battle. Thousands A recording at TCI Cable said light," he said. "They think,
talks and town meetings—to dis- of bullet casings littered the service would be out for the night 'Maybe I shouldn't: "
courage the annual ritual. Miami- streets, and three people, includ- "due to vandalism." It was herald staJj'writer hleg Jansen•
Dade Commissioner Barbara Ing Miami Police Officer Ricky restored at about 1.10 p.m.Thurs- contributed io this report.
3R0WAR ""'\M DADE W STATE
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SECTION
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 1,1998
jL I
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Ac Heralt) Bn0
It was -- no big surprise a whirlwind of a year
By ARNOLD MARKOWITZ a
on the streets below grab the rest.They give
Herald Staff Writer r r i mayor's it back a little at a time — at last count.
Never quiet, never dull. The year just
A tornado. A 'hurricane'in the Miami ma ors office. about $300.
past in renamed Miami-Dade County was cargo plane crash a baseball world championship. A cold front, much colder and faster
typically atypical: A tornado downtown. A r than anyone knew till too late, bowls over
"hurricane"in the Miami mayor's office.A the South Dade farming district.Damage is
cargo plane crash,a baseball world champi- estimated at $93 million. All the pole
onship, an election controversy, old scan- That's for other places. Here they chase II surgery saves his life,but he never returned beans, southern peas, okra and bonlato
dals overlapped from '96 and new scandals away with guns, bang bang bang. Miami to patrol duty. Taylor retires after 21-plus growing on 4,600 acres arc killed. So are 85
to overlap on '98. Police commanders order street cops to years of service, percent of the squash, 75 percent of the
It started, of course, with gunfire. take cover on New Year's Eve, for 15 min- A Brinks truck full of bucks flips over on corn,peppers and malanga and lots ofother
uses each side of midni2hl. O1licer Ricky an overpass in Overtown, and $900,000 fruit and vegetable plants.
JANUARY Taylor, sitting in a patrol car in Liberty rolls over the brink. Firefighter Manny
Fast away the old year passes, fa la la. City, is shot anyway — in the head. Brain Rodriguez rescues about $330.000. Folks PLEASESEE 1"7, 26
28 THE HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1997 BRo
Carey: No New Year's Eve bullets
Miami-Dade Commissioner gunshots to a Vietnam War scene.
Barbara Carey is asking Miami Thousands of bullet casings lay on
residents to stay indoors this New the street, and three people,
Year's Eve to avoid the spray of including Miami Police'Officer
bullets that usually marks the first Ricky Taylor,were wounded.Res-
day — and the first death — of idcnts criticized policc•'for 'not
the new year. responding to their calls:
Carey kicked off the "No More But Miami Police Office[ W1I-
Stray Bullets"campaign Wednes- liam Moreno said his Colleagues
day atL� ertyCity'sJosephCaleb protect themselves and 'do,not
Center, lmplonng people to stay patrol the streets from midni ht
g
inside and not shoot their guns. Dec. 31 until about 12:10,a.m.
Gunfire is the tradition on During that time, Miami,Police
New Year's, but that tradition is logged 88 calls reporting gunfire.
life-threatening because when bul- •
Icts are sprayed into the sky,they "Unless there's an emergency
must come down."she said. call,we try to seek shelicr under a
Last year in Liberty City, resi- highway or in a house,"t Mdano
dents likened the downpour of said.
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