SB 234 - FL Senate Committee on Criminal Justice Hearing scheduled for 2/22/11
SB 234 is on the agenda of the FL Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
on Tuesday, February 22nd at 9:00am. Florida Carry, Inc. urgently requests that you
email via the members of the committee in support of Senate Bill 234.
This NRA authored bill comprises several separate initiatives.
These include the option for CWFL holders to carry openly; a provision to authorize
carry at career centers, colleges, and universities; the right to store a firearm in
one's vehicle wherever it may be lawfully parked;
the authorization for the Department of Agriculture to take fingerprints;
the repeal of Florida’s ban on long gun purchases in most other states.
Quite simply put, this is the most comprehensive carry rights bill since shall-issue
concealed carry was passed twenty-four years ago.
Florida is one of only seven states where open carry of firearms is generally
forbidden, excepting under certain circumstances. Arguments against open
carry generally consist of concerns regarding the fearful reactions of the
general population. Some have suggested that an open carrier becomes an
instant target, having his firearm snatched by a criminal in line at a convenience
store. The facts simply do not support those allegations. In states where open carry
is lawfully practiced, citizens have become accustomed to the understanding that
a holstered weapon is a danger to no one. There have been no wholesale attacks on
open carriers, nor have open carriers been shot with their own weapons.
Police officers are not fearful of open carriers as they know that a 5-year FBI
crime study has shown that criminals do not open carry, nor do they carry in holsters.
Criminals shun attention, something that the open carrying of a firearm invariably
draws to some extent. Not a single state that has legalized open carry in recent years
has repealed the right.
In 1987, open carry was outlawed primarily because of the predictions of
wild west shootouts, blood in the streets, gun battles over parking spaces,
and normally law abiding people indiscriminately becoming homicidal maniacs.
The main opponent of open carry was Janet Reno, then assistant state attorney.
She was able to rally support from a vocal group of police administrators with
the doom and gloom scenarios. Amazingly enough, the exact same arguments
were heard against "shall-issue" concealed carry. Twenty-four years later, and
none of the rampant bloodshed predictions about concealed carry have come true.
With regard to carry on colleges and universities, it is not coincidence that most
of the mass shootings in the U.S. occur on the campuses of educational institutions.
To believe that a potential assailant would be dissuaded from committing mass
murder simply because there is a law forbidding him to bring a firearm on campus
is pure folly. Rape, robbery, assault, and murder have all occurred on campuses
across the country.
College and university administrators continue to deny the reality that by
prohibiting students, faculty, staff, and visitors from defending themselves
promotes an unsafe environment. Often ignored by opponents is the fact that
only concealed weapons/firearms license holders would be permitted to carry
on campus, and the minimum age requirement to have a license is 21. Those
students under 21 would not be permitted to carry on campus. Once again,
the potential criminals do not care about minimum age or having a license.
After all, there are no barriers to access on most campuses. Florida Carry, Inc.
supports SB 234, and encourages all gun owners/carriers to join us in contacting
the senators on the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
Please tell them 24 years is enough.
We urgently need you to email the committee members NOW!
Include “Support SB 234” in the Subject Line
E-mail Helper (feel free to cut, paste, and edit to suit) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO: evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov
SUBJECT: Support SB 234 – Support the Second Amendment
Dear Senator,
This e-mail is to express my support for Senate Bill 234, Firearms.
As a member of the Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice,
you will be hearing this bill on Tuesday, February 22nd.
I respectfully ask that you wholeheartedly support this bill.
The predictions of doom and gloom that preceded the adoption of "shall-issue"
concealed carry have been proven to be fiction. For twenty-four years,
Florida concealed weapons/firearms license holders have proven themselves
to be responsible to the extreme. Since 1987, only 168 of nearly two-million
licenses have been revoked due to misuse of firearms. It is time to recognize
that responsibility by giving those licensees the option to carry their firearms
in the manor that is most appropriate to their situation, openly or concealed.
In the 43 states that permit some form of general open carry, not a single state
has repealed that right.
It is also time to recognize that criminals have discovered a target-rich environment
at colleges and universities. Rapes, robberies, assaults, and other violent crimes
continually occur at and near campuses on students, faculty, and staff alike.
Concealed weapons/firearms license holders should not have to relinquish the ability
to defend themselves because of a mistaken belief that criminals obey campus
restrictions.
Please support SB 234.
Respectfully yours,
Name and zip code
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