State law allows task forces to manage gun ownership

After the state passed “The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Safety Act,” it created a “risk protection orders,” which allows a court to stop a violent or mentally ill person from buying or owning a gun. The law is aimed to keep guns out of hands of those who may be dangerous and keep schools safer.

On Monday, Cape Coral City Council will approve or deny a resolution to help make the new law possible at the local level by creating a task force that will manage gun ownership.

“I think it’s a great idea, especially with what’s going on in this world today with school shootings and theaters,” said Rick Santangelo in Cape Coral.

The risk protection order (RPO) task force will be made up of deputies and officers across Lee County, including at least one detective from Cape Coral Police Department.

The law allows family members and law enforcement to get a court order when there is evidence that a person poses a significant danger, possibly as a result of a dangerous mental health crisis or violent behavior.

“Innocent people are dying over it, and I think it’s a great idea to have a task force like that,” Santangelo said.

Some gun owners said the task force is a good idea but still have questions.

“I would want to make sure that it was absolutely 100% that it needed to be taken away,” said April Gibson in Cape Coral.