Audrey Gibson

Democratic lawmakers file bill restricting guns for ‘at-risk’ individuals

Published on October 5, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Mitch Perry

Following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history earlier this week in Las Vegas, two Florida lawmakers announced legislation designed to temporarily prevent access to firearms for individuals at a high risk of harming themselves or others. The bill (HB 231), filed Thursday by Jacksonville Sen. Audrey Gibson and Lantana Rep. Lori Berman – both Democrats –would allow family, household members, and law enforcement to obtain a court order with “demonstrated evidence” the person poses a significant danger to themselves or others, including…

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Marco Rubio: With ‘higher standard’ for lawmakers, Frank Artiles was right to resign

Published on April 22, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Phil Ammann

Marco Rubio has ‘no doubt’ state Sen. Frank Artiles‘ did the right thing by resigning from the Florida Legislature Friday in the wake of a racist and sexist outburst against two lawmakers. Elected officials are rightfully “held to a different standard,” Rubio said. “You hold a public trust, you are a representative of those districts, and you are going to be held to a different standard, and people should know that coming in,” the U.S. Senator from Miami told host Jim DeFede on “Facing South Florida.”…

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Joe Negron: Frank Artiles ‘made the right decision’

Published on April 21, 2017 in 2017 by Staff Reports

Senate President Joe Negron said former Sen. Frank Artiles made the “right decision” to resign. The Miami-area Republican resigned his seat Friday rather than face a hearing that could have resulted in his explusion from the Senate. “Senator Artiles made the right decision,” ,” said Negron in a statement. “As Senator Artiles has noted, he holds himself responsible and accountable for his actions and comments.” Artiles made national news after he accosted Sen. Perry Thurston, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, and Sen.…

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Audrey Gibson responds to Frank Artiles’ ‘horrific’ tirade

Published on April 21, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

Sen. Audrey Gibson on Thursday publicly responded to fellow Sen. Frank Artiles‘ racially-charged invective aimed at her earlier this week, saying she’s unsure she can be “comfortable” continuing to serve with Artiles in the Senate. Gibson appeared at a press conference with Sen. Perry Thurston and a group of Tallahassee-area pastors at the city’s Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. “It was horrific,” Gibson said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “No one has ever addressed me in such a manner in my entire life.…

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Lawyer: Frank Artiles racial slurs offensive, but they’re also free speech

Published on April 21, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Associated Press

A lawyer representing a state senator who could be punished for using a racial slur and other vulgarities says he’ll present evidence that other senators have used similar language. The Senate is reviewing a complaint that Republican Sen. Frank Artiles used the “n-word” and other obscenities in a conversation with two African-American senators at a private club near the Capitol. Lawyer Steven Andrews wrote to the Senate lawyer reviewing the case and said the complaint shouldn’t be pursued because Artiles’…

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David Simmons condemns Frank Artiles comments; calls for due process, suggests PTSD might be factor

Published on April 20, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Scott Powers

Republican state Sen. David Simmons sharply condemned racist and vulgar comments made earlier this week by state Sen. Frank Artiles. The behavior is nothing new, Simmons said, but he puts his faith in the Senate’s due process to determine a judgment by the body. Simmons, of Altamonte Springs, then suggested that Artiles’ behavior might be a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder — or some other circumstance — and the Senate needs to hear of any aggravating or mitigating circumstances before…

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Florida’s NAACP joins those calling for Frank Artiles’ resignation

Published on April 20, 2017 in 2017/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

The head of the NAACP Florida State Conference is calling for state Sen. Frank Artiles to step down. The organization “stands fully behind the Florida Legislative Black Caucus … and several groups who have called for the resignation of Miami Senator Frank Artiles,” said Adora Obi Nweze, president of Florida’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Artiles, a Cuban-American Republican from Miami-Dade County, made national news after he accosted Sen. Perry Thurston, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, and Sen. Audrey Gibson, a Jacksonville Democrat, calling…

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