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Another day, another position on guns for Darren Soto

in Peter by

At first blush, Sen. Darren Soto joining other Orlando-area lawmakers in calling for a Special Session to implement new restrictions on firearms purchases make perfect sense. After all, he’s a young Democrat from an urban Central Florida district who occasionally makes liberal noises when it comes to LGBT rights, women’s access to heath care, and other relatively safe social issues. So it stands to reason that in the wake of the Pulse nightclub massacre that has left Orlando traumatized and angry, Soto…

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Diane Roberts: Muslims, immigrants aren’t the problem. It’s guns

in 2017/Top Headlines by

It’s back to business as usual: hating Muslims, loving guns. We had just celebrated the life of Muhammad Ali, the most famous, most beloved Muslim in the nation’s history. For a minute, one sweet minute, Americans might have been moved to think more expansively about Islam. And race. And violence. Some of us dared hope that the toxic sewer-flow of Trumpery might at least slow down, that America might manage a rare moment of introspection. Then Omar Mateen, a deranged…

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Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s out-of-context quotes lead to misinterpretation, harsh responses

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) issued a statement on Monday giving their full support to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who has been under a firestorm of criticism in recent days for comments he was quoted as saying last week regarding the open carry legislation being debated in the Florida Legislature. Gualtieri and the FSA oppose the legislation, but in a story written by Margie Menzel for the News Service of Florida Thursday, the sheriff was quoted as saying that if an…

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Professional protester only “regular guy” to testify in support of NRA’s open carry bill

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

What exactly is a “regular guy?” In the Florida Legislature, there’s an implicit rule: Speakers who provide testimony should accurately describe their motives and agenda when speaking in front of committees. That said, it’s not unusual for paid consultants to speak on an issue, as it is equally common for concerned citizens to travel to Tallahassee to express heartfelt opinions on a matter. Often, legislators will give more weight to those “regular folks,” as their testimony comes from deeply held,…

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“Campus carry” bill approved by House higher ed panel

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A bill to allow guns on Florida’s college campuses passed a House panel on higher education Wednesday morning, amid a heated debate on the role of firearms in public spaces. The bill passed easily through the House Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee, though former police officer and Democratic Rep. Dave Kerner spoke against the bill and joined impassioned testifiers in declaring the proposal could pose a threat to public safety. The bill – HB 4001, sponsored by Sarasota Republican Rep. Greg Steube and…

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House panel pulls trigger on open carry

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A House panel Tuesday morning advanced a bill to allow concealed weapons licensees to carry their guns openly in Florida. Or as sponsor state Rep. Matt Gaetz put it, restore a right “granted not by government, but by God.” Despite an admonishment from Chairman Carlos Trujillo to keep questions to the text of the bill itself and avoid “philosophical” discussion, the Federalist Papers, constitutional jurisprudence, and the very notion of civilization all shot through an hour-long debate on the measure, which saw testimony from…

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Guns bills move forward in early committee action

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

In its first meeting in preparation of the 2016 regular legislative Session, a Senate committee pulled the trigger on two bills to alter Florida’s state gun statutes on Wednesday. On a so-called “campus carry” bill to allow concealed weapons into higher education facilities, a House panel shortly followed suit. First up was SB 130 sponsored by Sen. Garrett Richter, essentially this year’s version of Democrat Rep. Darryl Rouson‘s bill from last year to prevent residents of densely populated neighborhoods from…

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