While our electeds in Tallahassee mess up a perfectly starter gun control bill with their crazy school militia program and GOP House members repeatedly oppose 
amendments to close the gun show loophole, Democrat candidates in this year’s state elections are taking it straight to the source — urging the Miami-Dade Youth Fair and Expo to cancel two upcoming gun shows in May and July.
And the city commission in South Miami on Tuesday night unanimously passed a measure, sponsored by Commissioner Josh Liebman, demanding local governments prohibit gun shows on public property, which the fairgrounds is on.
Mayor Philip Stoddard told Ladra after the vote that the city would send the resolution to the Miami-Dade Fairgrounds “since the county contract with them ceded control of the events.”
Related: Lawmakers vote to leave assault rifles on the street and arm teachers instead
In a Feb. 23 letter to the board members and executives of the Miami-Dade Youth and Exposition — the hosts of a gun show the very weekend after the Parkland tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High — five Democrat state House candidates and a state senate candidate pressed board members to cancel two upcoming gun shows in coming months.
“The tragic events of February 14th resulting in the death of 17 students and teachers in neighboring Broward County have shaken our community. Here in Miami-Dade, a gun show took place at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition grounds (the “Fairgrounds”) the following weekend.
Gun shows are well-known as places where people can buy a weapon of any caliber from private sellers, who are neither federally licensed, nor do they run background checks on buyers. The sale of such weapons without required screening is notoriously referred to as ‘gun show loophole’.
According to a 2017 study, 22 percent of gun owners obtained their weapons without submitting to a background check. That equates to millions of guns sold to individuals who could have a violent past or be mentally ill. Many of these purchases likely occurred at gun shows, easily accessible marketplaces for people who don’t want to be subject to a background check to find non-licensed gun dealers.
The Fairgrounds are presently scheduled to host two other gun shows in May and July. The undersigned write to you to request that your organization follow of communities like Broward County by agreeing to cancel future gun shows in light of the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
While there are many issues of contention when it comes to gun reform, there is a growing consensus about requiring comprehensive background checks to keep weapons out of the hands of citizens that suffer from mental health issues or are known to be violent. Your organization is dedicated to enriching our community by promoting education – hosting gun shows is directly inapposite of this mission.
The cancellation of the scheduled shows and a future prohibition on such events at the Fairgrounds is but a small gesture, compared to the disgrace and insult to the victims of shootings and their families if they were allowed continue. If we know that just one individual can use such shows to bypass a background check in order to arm their ill intent against our children, we cannot in good conscience continue to host these gun shows at the Fairgrounds.
We call on you, the board members and executives of the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, Inc., to do what is right by cancelling the scheduled gun shows and prohibiting all future gun shows on the Fairgrounds.”
The letter was signed “Respectfully,” by Javier Fernández, who is running in House District 114 in Coral Gables, Jason Pizzo, who is running for Senate in District 38, Cedric McMinn, running in House District 109 in Miami and Opa-Locka, Kubs Lalchandani, running in House District 113 in Miami Beach and Little Havana, Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon, running in House District 115 in Pinecrest and Dotie Joseph, running in House District 108 in Miami and Miami Shores.
But only Fernández and Solomon are likely to face Republicans. The others are running in traditionally blue districts against Democrat incumbents or, in the case of Lalchandani, in an open seat vacated by a Democrat and against another Democrat, former Miami Beach Commissioner Deede Weithorn (more on that later).
Fernández is the first up with a special election May 1. And, yeah, this issue is going to hurt 
Andrew Vargas, who won the Republican primary last month. Vargas is law partners and the political protege of State Rep. Carlos Trujillo, who ushered this school militia program quite quickly in the appropriations committee. This photograph, while a corporate pic, likely is a good characterization about their feelings with the progress that this crazy guns in schools law has made.
Related: GOP voters in House 114 slam dunk Jose Pazos and pick Andrew Vargas
Ladra was undecided on this race because, let’s face it, the Dems didn’t make the best choice, again. A lobbyist against an insurance industry attorney who is also Trujillo’s proxy? After they’ve slammed Republican lobbyists in previous campaigns? Ugh. But we need Democrats in Tallahassee next year to undo the damage and pass reasonable bans on weapons that were built and are meant for war. So, yeah, Javi, a little begrudgingly, Ladra is yours. At least in May. We’ll see in November. I still like Ross Hancock, who didn’t want to spent his energy on a special election where the Dems had already picked another guy.
But Fernández is right on this issue and right on time. 
On Tuesday, he went to South Miami City Hall to support Liebman’s item.
“It’s an issue that’s been missing from the state efforts to address gun reform,” Fernández told Ladra afterwards.
“There seems to be a consensus that everybody needs background screening,” he said, adding that 31 gun shows in the next 60 days were happening on state and county fairgrounds in Florida. “I just find it inconsistent with the directed mission of these organizations, which is to advance educational development.”
Fernández was a policy advisor to former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz who stopped the practice of hosting gun shows at the Coconut Grove Convention Center when he became involved in the Mayors Against Illegal Guns organization in 2009 — which, by the way, does not list Miami as a member today on its website (ahem, Mayor Francis Suarez).
Let’s hope Fernández is as good a lobbyist as everybody thinks he is 
when he speaks before the Fairgrounds board about this on Monday. That board includes Miami-Dade School Board Member Maria Teresa “Maritere” Rojas, who is also up for re-election, so let’s watch what she does and says very closely.
It does seem somewhat incongruous that the location for our annual and beloved Youth Fair, which is already being advertised this year, would also be the home of traveling firearm festivals. And while Ladra has not supported Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s efforts to usurp the Youth Fair lease for Florida International University’s expansion, it is taxpayer owned property.
Related: By putting guns in schools, Republicans send a clear message: Elect Democrats
The Youth Fair board would be wise to do the right thing if it wants the 
community’s support against Gimenez’s overtures, which can be resumed at any moment.
Gun shows across Florida are held on public land — at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Fort Myers or the Lee County Civic Center, for example. Future leases with these organizations that use public lands should state specifically that these properties cannot be used for gun shows.
At least not until we close the gun show loophole.
But, as we saw in Tallahassee on Tuesday, neither of those things are likely to happen until more Democrat candidates are elected.
State candidates, South Miami pressure Youth Fair & Expo to evict gun shows added by Ladra on
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Javier Fernandez is a sleaze ball who never did crap at the City of Miami. He was part of the clang who supported the corruption of Commissioner Sarnoff. He was also their to support the stadium and ultra expensive Police and Fire Union Contracts. This is the last guy that I would want representing my District.
To Ladra and Political Stunt:
Sorry about the delay in responding, but campaigning is real work.
Let’s clarify what we are requesting – what we are attempting to “ban” (or more correctly, suggest that the MDYF&E Inc.) is not “speech” but the sale of guns on the youth fair property – which is considered a commercial activity. If the organizers want to have gun seminars or 2nd Amendment seminars without the sale of guns, then so be it. We certainly cannot and should not preclude such activities.
However, in the event the organizers are limited to hosting events where commercial sales are not permitted they would likely cancel or relocate the events as the educational (speech) component is the window-dressing on this commercial enterprise. The organizers have plenty of other privately-owned locations to host these commercial events (i.e. Merchandise Mart conference center). The Youth Fair should not be tacitly endorsing such commercial activity on its property.
If we have any doubts about the ability to regulate such commercial activity on public land, Mr. Political Stunt should look to the 9th Circuit and read “Great Western Shows v. Los Angeles County.” There the 9th Circuit upheld a prohibition on gun sales at the fairgrounds in Pomona, CA.
In any event, good lawyers (and elected leaders) should not fear the prospect of making new case law and defending such a prohibition when it is clearly the right thing to do. Happy to volunteer to represent the Youth Fair in defending any subsequent litigation pro-bono (and I am sure others will be happy to join me in the effort) should the show organizers seek to challenge the policy. I was hoping to extend that offer in person at their March 12th board meeting when I was invited to address their board. Curiously enough and to my eternal shock (sarcasm), I received a letter on March 10th from the Fair’s executive director advising me that the meeting had to be cancelled on account of “the significant amount of work required of staff before the March 15th start of the annual fair” (paraphrasing).
Stay tuned as we will be revisiting this issue with them soon.
Yours truly,
Javier Fernandez
Dear knuckleheads (except for you Mayor Stoddard). I feel I have to respond to you all simultaneously and rather than laugh at your ridiculous arguments, I would rather pull them apart.
This snowflake, by the way, owns three guns and took the 4-hour concealed carry class… never got the permit, took the class just because I like to learn and want to be a responsible gun owner… and frequent the firing range. I’d like to post a picture of my paper target so you can all see how good a mark I am! So, no, this is not an anti-gun post or anti Second amendment post at all. My parents are Cuban and I have heard the “Armas para que?” story 17 mil veces. And I understand it is not about hunting or protecting your family or sport but about the ability to rise against a tyranical goverenment, which — not funny — is not such an obscure thought for me anymore. I’m all for starting a well-regulated civil militia and even want to join (call me!). So there.
As far as this being a First Amendment issue, there are definitely restrictions on the First Amendment, as any good lawyer would know (Mr. Stunt). Beyond you can’t yell fire in a movie theater, you can’t say whatever you want, for example, in someone else’s house. “Unless an individual is acting on behalf of the government or as a government agent, she is generally free to prohibit any kind of speech she wants in her own home, or any other private setting, as long as she does so without breaking another law, such as physically assaulting someone.” Same goes for place of business. An employer can discipline someone for something they say (unless it runs afoul of other laws, like religious freedom or protections for whistleblowers). Social media companies can also remove posts they find offensive even if you don’t. Porn is illegal, too. It is considered “obscene speech” which is not protected. That’s why the filmmaker behind the controversial and viral “2 Girls, 1 Cup” video was sentenced to four years, despite claims that his work was “art” under the protections of the First Amendment.
Lastly, because this movement for gun sense is being led by students, did you know that students don’t have the same First Amendment rights as adults? A 1988 Supreme Court ruling says that free speech rights of students are not violated if and when school teachers or administrators remove stories about controversial subjects from a student newspaper or magazine.
Now, I don’t agree necessarily with all these restrictions on the First Amendment, particularly the last one (who decides what is too controversial?). But these exist. It certainly seems plausible that a public government could on publicly owned land have some restrictions as to its use: Can’t sell alcohol, maybe, or medical marijuana. Can’t sell puppies from puppy mills (there are laws against that but not everywhere). Seems reasonable to say that you can’t lease a public property — or rent a park pavilion for the weekend, say — and sell guns there.
I would also be open to further restrictions on these gun shows. Maybe no assault rifles, which seems the biggest thing they push at these events. Maybe no kids under 18 allowed. Why? They aren’t allowed at the Pleasure Emporium, even just to look around. I can’t take my 17-year-old out to the clubs to hear live music. Why should kids be allowed to window shop at the Gun and Knife Club?
No, all of you who defend this use of our public land are wrong. It’s not just because it is on the “Youth Fairgrounds” for me. It shouldn’t happen at a park, at a convention center, at an arena or band shell by the beach. This is not what most of us taxpayers want to see on OUR property. Thankyouverymuch.
Class dismissed,
Ladra
I don’t expect your commenters, or some of the signees of that letter, to be legal scholars (although they are asking to be law makers, or are current elected officials), but Javier is a good lawyer and he knows better than this ask. This type of issue has been litigated all the way to the Supreme Court (Thomas vs. Chicago Park District). The Supreme Court ruled a Public Facility (Park) cannot deny a permit based on the content of the show as long as that content is currently legal and the organization is in good standing with all regulatory entities (count, state, etc…) I realize this is “GUNS” and it is a very emotional topic, but it would be seen as No Different than asking the Fair and It’s Board to deny any group based on an arbitrary/subjective personal opinion. This isn’t a 2nd Amendment issue… It’s a 1st Amendment issue, and any good lawyer knows that (Javier).
The horror of the gun and knife show that’s funny,I bet this person has never been to one. Where is it advertised as the youth gun and knife show ,all ages are welcomed to attend but if your under the age of 18 you aren’t able to by guns,and if people not just children are being killed and crippled in their neighborhood they should go to the root of the problem ,the person (s),doing the shootings,stopping guns shows isn’t going to solve this problem.
I would trade a million postalitas like Javi Fernandez for one Carlos Trujillo. The guy is probably the most effective legislator to come out of Miami Dade since Marco Rubio. Get a grip on reality Ladra. Our boys and girls in Tallahassee need to legislate with the rest of the state – not in your echo chamber of liberal hysteria.
For the 25 years I’ve worked at FIU, I have driven past the annual horror of the “Gun and Knife Show” sign at the “Youth Fair” just south of FIU. Guns and Youth do not belong in the same sentence or on the same property. I know (knew) too many youth who died from or were crippled by gun shots. How many were killed with sticks, rocks, or knives? Zero.
I would argue thats exactly where guns belong. a lot of the rest of the country still considers “Take your kid hunting and will never have to hunt for your kid” to be a valid family dynamic. I fondly remember my liberal Dad taking us out to Trail Grades range (another county park) for a day of skeet and target practice. He was doctor a teacher and life long democratic, hardly the toothless hillbilly the left thinks of as gun owners.
Guns don’t kill people-crazy people who the social progressive are afraid to flag as crazy less the little snowflakes be stigmatize and placed in treatment kill people.
Mr. Stoddard just as many if not more kids are killed by cars and in car accidents as well as drug overdoses, than guns. Spare us your anecdotal stories and stick to the facts. (I’m sure more than a few have been stabbed and clubbed to death and just because you don’t know them doesn’t mean it never happened). Maybe we should cancel the Auto Show?
” I have driven past the annual horror of the “Gun and Knife Show” sign at the “Youth Fair” just south of FIU. Guns and Youth do not belong in the same sentence or on the same property. ”
My father also a Democrat used to take me shooting to Trail Glades as well since I was 8 or 9 (THE HORROR). I got my first rifle (a 22) long before my 18th Birthday and look 5 Decades have passed and I’ve never shot anyone. There’s my gratuitous anecdotal BS story.
When are the liberals going to learn that the problem is the shooter and not the gun. All these wannabe politicians are trying to do is feed on the current emotions of some of the people to get votes. What they should be talking about is securing the schools with armed law enforcement. So instead of trying to shut down the livelihood of many people who depend on these gun shows to feed their families they should be talking about securing schools. The city of Miami is currently looking into putting a police officer at at each school. That is how you solve the problem. Also, if gun laws were a deterrent there would be no murders in Chicago who has the toughest gun laws in America. How has that worked out?
I think churches are the opiate of the masses and organize religion responsible for more deaths over the centuries than any other cause. however churches continue to operate freely in public parks renting space on Sunday with long term leases which in itself seems like a violation of church and state.
The point is in renting parks the government is supporting a religion which may be offensive to some. and as long as gun shows are legal banning them from public park is just as dangerous to civil rights as banding religion from the public space.
But lets not let facts muddy this debate.