11/3/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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s 2. The identical course is now proposed to be offered by the Vero Beach Police Benevolence Association, which agency shall now be recognized along with the Sheriff's Office for application purposes. 3. Renewal applicants shall receive a reduced fee for reapplication and shall be required to satisfy classroom and range requirements upon every second renewal only. Thesef revisions are the result of input from the Sheriff's Office and concerned private citizens. The Chairman asked if anyone present wished to be heard. Bill Stegkemper, who worked on the proposed revisions along with Attorney Paull and Major Raymond of the Sheriff's Department, stated that his main concern at this point is the qualification of demonstrable -need. He emphasized that a person carries a firearm for self defense, and he believed this should be spelled out in this ordinance even.though Attorney Paull contends the present listing of purposes means the same thing. Mr. Stegkemper stressed that the courts say the police have a duty only to the public at large and are not required to protect individual members of the community. He felt strongly that the freedom to bear arms is a general freedom, and it should not have to be qualified. Mr. Baylor of West Wabasso concurred with Mr. Stegkemper. In addition, he questioned the need to shoot 16 rounds of ammunition to qualify each gun when bullets are so expensive, and further objected to qualifying at;a range of 15 yards as he felt self defense would not involve shooting someone that distance away. Commissioner Bird asked Attorney Brandenburg to comment , on the basic reasoning behind the qualifications required, and Attorney Brandenburg explained that if the county undertakes to license someone and does not determine if that person has the ability to handle the weapon safely, it �1 p V 3 1992 8 6 six , 51 Px, E 91 I