FLORIDA CARRY, INC. LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Every day, we as Americans call upon our military members to lay their lives on the line in defense of our country. Overseas, we give them the hardware necessary to defend their lives. However, we often leave them defenseless while on leave at home. There have been several instances of late involving military members being injured or killed while on leave or just returned home from overseas due to violent acts by criminals.

Today, Representative Brad Drake filed HB 499 on behalf of Florida Carry, Inc., and our thousands of servicemembers stationed or deployed overseas.

The bill is simple. It directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to issue a concealed carry license to any servicemember or veteran who applies without regard to age or residency status. The military applicant must still meet all other licensing criteria including background checks.  The bill also requires that the DOACS accept fingerprints from any military law enforcement unit or provost.

Florida Carry, Inc. believes that if we can entrust our military members to protect our lives overseas, we can entrust them to lawfully defend the lives of themselves and their families while stateside.

House Bill 45, sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz and it's companion, Senate Bill 402, sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron. is a long-overdue initiative to rectify an serious oversight made twenty-four years ago by the Florida legislature.

In 1987, §790.33 Florida Statutes became law. This law, referred to as the preemption statute, declared that the Florida legislature was occupying the entire field of regulation relating to firearms and ammunition, and declared that all existing and future ordinances, rules, and regulations passed by counties, cities, and municipalities were null and void. Lacking any way to enforce the statute led to these local jurisdictions to ignore it and continue passing local laws in violation of it.

HB45/SB402 has the following provisions:

1. Specifically prohibits local jurisdictions from regulating storage of firearms and ammunition.
2. Eliminates local jurisdictions from enacting firearms business zoning ordinances.
3. Clarifies that no entity other than the state legislature may regulate firearms.
4. Eliminates waiting periods imposed by local jurisdictions.
5. Establishes penalties for violations of the statute enacted by local authorities including conviction of a third-degree felony, withholding of public funds to defend such violators, a fine of up to $5 million for willful violation, investigation by the state attorney, possible removal from office of willful violators by the governor, and award of actual and consequential damages and attorney's fees.

In view of the fact that this bill will restore the Florida legislature's orginal intent in occupying the entire field of regulation of firearms and ammunition, Florida Carry, Inc. fully supports this bill. We urge the committees to approve the bill, the legislature to approve it, and encourages the Governor to sign this bill into law at his earliest opportunity.

New York Lawmaker Proposes New Defense-Free Death Zones

Laws prohibiting mass murder at penalty of death are obviously too weak.Making it illegal to be armed while within 1000 feet of a politician would have stopped this tragedy in Arizona where six people were killed and fourteen, including a U.S. Congresswoman, were wounded.

Ridiculous?Most people think so, but that is the exact logic being used by Rep. Peter King (R) of NY.He proposes a 1000 foot defense-free-zone be established around him and other lawmakers that he thinks will deter insane murderers like Jared Lee Loughner.

Jared Lee Loughner Mug Shot

ABC News reports that Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, said "People have become suspicious of the ability of laws to make a difference, and I think that when they look at shootings like this they think laws didn't stop this from happening".

For once we agree with the Brady Campaign.Making another law to disarm law abiding citizens does nothing but insure that an active shooter like Jared Loughner, Seung-Hui Cho, or Amy Bishop are able to open fire and not be shot until they have succeeded in committing mass murder.

Clay Duke in Florida was stopped once he opened fire because the school district’s head of security, Mike Jones, has a concealed firearms license and utilized Florida’s law that allows licensed employees to keep guns locked in their cars. When Duke pulled out his gun, thankfully, he did not immediately open fire. This gave Mr. Jones time to run to his car to get his gun and return in time. Police arrived after it was all over.

One of the first responders to the attack in Tucson was a lawfully armed citizen.  Joe Zamudio was at a near by pharmacy when shots rang out.  He rushed toward the attack but was to far away to stop the shooter before Loughner attempted to reload and was tackled.  Mr. Zamudio never drew his weapon, but insured that the person who was now holding the gun was not the shooter and helped hold Loughner until police arrived.  If only a concealed carrier had been closer at hand.

Rep. King’s magical 1000 foot, no legal guns here, force field would lead to more deaths of innocent people.

Dr. Suzanna Hupp can tell you the truth about gun-free-zones.