Scott Powers
Democratic House District 47 candidate Henry Lim is crying foul over a mailer primary opponent Beth Tuura sent out this weekend declaring that Lim was arrested on a gun charge.
Lim was arrested Nov. 5, 2015, when security found a loaded handgun in his bag while he attempted to enter a federal building in Miami, but he was never formally charged.
The arrest occurred because Miami police alleged he had committed an offense under a gun charge. But the state attorney never filed a formal charge and the case went away in December. Lim once had a concealed weapons permit, but it had expired at that time. He has since reapplied for such a permit.
Lim faces Tuura and Clint Curtis in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. The winner would face Republican incumbent state Rep. Mike Miller of Orlando in the November election.
“In reality, Lim has never been charged with a crime in his life. He has no criminal record,” read a statement from Lim’s campaign. “The mailer appears timed to frighten and mislead voters just before Election Day on Tuesday.
“Tuura’s mailer is based on a November 2015 incident at a Miami immigration services building, where Lim was stopped with a handgun in his briefcase,” the statement continues. “Contrary to the mailer’s claim, no charges were filed and Lim was able to apply for a renewal of his concealed carry permit.”
Tuura’s mailer also includes the words “HENRY LIM brought a loaded gun into a federal building,” which Lim has never denied. It also notes that the safety was off and a bullet was in the chamber, which was noted in the arrest report.
“We stated the fact about Henry Lim’s gun arrest,” Tuura replied. “It’s important that the voters of House District 47 know Henry Lim’s record as a careless gun owner.”
