Barwin overshoots on guns

You get it. We get it. In the wake of every horrific tragedy, the instinctive response in the United States is to rally for a new law. Get government to do something.

Ban guns. Stop smoking. Regulate soda intake. Mandate baby seats. 

Pass a law. That’ll stop bad things from happening. Even though we know in our heart of hearts no one will ever eliminate every possible bad result, there is an irresistible urge to prevent or pre-empt tragedy.

We get it. 

So we all understand Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin’s good-intention urge to want Sarasota city commissioners to send their collective recommendation to federal and state officials to, as he proposed, “strictly limit the availability and use of military grade-high capacity assault weapons to bona fide law enforcement agencies and to do so with the sense of urgency and commitment …”

And not only that, Barwin, the author and initiator of this proposed resolution this week, wanted authorization from the City Commission “to transmit a copy of this resolution to our state and federal elected officials, and national, state and local municipal and public safety organizations interested in promoting safe community life and preventing mass shootings in American communities and media outlets that have been reporting on this issue.”

We understand his sentiment and his urge to take a stand.

But it’s not Barwin’s place. 

The city manager overstepped his charter-authorized responsibilities when he authored and placed on the City Commission agenda the proposed resolution this week to have the City Commission enter the national gun debate.

Of course, he, like every American, has the right to speak his mind. And you would expect gun-control advocates to defend and applaud Barwin’s principled stand. Indeed, all five city commissioners unanimously agreed with Barwin’s resolution Monday night — even though they took the city attorney’s advice against formally adopting it.

Sarasota city voters, however, did not elect Barwin. And it’s probably safe to say city voters who are staunch defenders of the Constitution and the guaranteed right to bear to arms — they outnumbered gun opponents about 2-1 at the commission meeting — did not appreciate Barwin’s attempt to use the City Commission to further his personal convictions.

This is what disturbs so many Americans. That, at every turn, every incident, those in government take it upon themselves to intervene in our lives and take away more of our liberty.

We understand the passion of Barwin and the urge to take action in the wake of tragedy. But this instance is not the city manager or City Commission’s arena. Stick to solving Sarasota’s unfunded pension liabilities and traffic backups on U.S. 41.