Gun Violence: Buyback Program, Memorial, Task Force Proposed

On the agenda for the Hillsborough County Commissioners today, Jan. 9, are measures to establish a regularly scheduled gun-buyback program, a memorial tribute to gun-violence victims and a task force to address gun-violence prevention and intervention services.

The initiatives are being proposed by Kevin Beckner, who as the commissioner for District 6 represents the Greater Brandon area as well as the county at-large.

Should the commissioners approve the measures as proposed, county officials would "develop a regularly scheduled gun-buyback program and memorial tribute to victims of gun violence in partnership with area businesses, local law enforcement and community stakeholders."

Also, officials would make recommendations for convening a task force of representatives from mental health, law enforcement and education concerns, among others, "to propose prevention and intervention services that focus on gun violence" in Hillsborough County.

Staff would report back to the commissioners within 30 days on the gun-buyback program and within 60 days on the formation of the task force and the issues it would address.

According to the Jan. 9 agenda for the Hilsborough County Board of County Commissioners meeting, the gun-violence prevention and intervention measure are scheduled to be discussed at 10:30 a.m.

The meeting at the Frederick B. Karl County Center, at 601 East Kennedy Blvd., is scheduled to being 9 a.m. in the second-story boardroom.

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"In the wake of what happened in Newtown, I think there are communities like ours whose leaders are searching for what we can do to curtail some of this gun violence," Kevin Beckner reportedly told The Tampa Tribune.

The buyback program would be funded in part by the county and also by community partners, such as businesses, the Tribune reported.

Politicians nationwide have been discussing gun buy-back programs in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting massacre. U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, D-Boca Raton, wants Congress to fund $200 million for a national program, the Tribune reports.

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What's your view? Should the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners vote for a gun-buyback program? What should a gun-violence task force propose? How tough should we get on gun control? Let us know in the comment box below.

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