Surprise! Guns and Florida mix again

[jpak]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/fl-gscol-guns-oped1127-20111127,0,1401435.column

The discussion always comes back to Florida, doesn't it? Particularly when the discussion is about guns.

So it was no great shock the other day when I called the folks at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and I told them where I was calling from.

"Florida," the woman at the other end of the phone sighed. "Yeah, they are just about the worst."

<snip>

But hey, the NRA has never seen a gun restriction it would accept. And the same with the gun crazies, who constantly misrepresent the intent of the Second Amendment so they can smugly say the Constitution gives them the right to carry their Glock into Starbucks.

<more>

[TheWraith]

1. "But hey, the NRA has never seen a gun restriction it would accept."

Except that they helped write and fully support the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act of 1968.

jpak fails basic accuracy, again.

[Tejas]

2. Really?

"And the same with the gun crazies, who constantly misrepresent the intent of the Second Amendment so they can smugly say the Constitution gives them the right to carry their Glock into Starbucks."


Without quoting the "ban crazies", ould you mind citing the intent of the 2nd?


the "ban crazies", the "ban militants", the "ban loons"...LOL

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Washington State is 'looser'.

So, I guess the brady bunch is ignorant.

[gejohnston]

4. or bitter that

Grandma and Grandpa hates snow more than loves them.

[spin]

5. The Brady Campaign dislikes Florida because that is where the "shall issue"

concealed carry movement that swept across the nation began in 1987. The Brady Campaign did everything they could to stop the passage of the law in Florida. At the time their claim that allowing licensed concealed carry would lead to "a return to the Wild West" shootouts at every intersection and showdowns on main street at high noon" sounded possible. Even I suspected that they might be right.

But "shall issue" concealed carry passed and as the months passed it became obvious that allowing honest people who had undergone a background check and had taken a firearm safety or concealed class, created none of the problems that the Brady Campaign had predicted. Realizing just how successful the Florida Concealed Weapons program was, many other states modeled their new concealed carry laws after it.



The Brady Campaign complains that getting a concealed weapons permit in Florida is too easy despite the fact that an applicant has to get fingerprinted, obtain a passport photo, go through a background check and get firearms training. What they would prefer is that at a minimum applicants would have to pay a high fee and gain permission to carry from the local police department. In other words they would like to insure that only the rich, the privileged and the well connected could legally carry concealed. What they would love to see is a concealed carry system similar to the one in New York City.

Frequently Asked Questions

POSITION: The Brady Campaign opposes laws pushed by the gun lobby to force law enforcement to allow virtually anyone to carry loaded hidden handguns in public.


Q. What is a "carrying concealed weapons" (CCW) permit?

A. A CCW permit allows an individual to carry a loaded, hidden handgun in public. Thirty-five states force law enforcement to issue permits to carry a concealed handgun in public to anyone who meets certain minimum legal standards. This means that law enforcement officials are forced to issue a permit to carry a handgun even if they have misgivings about the person's ability to be responsible with it in public. This type of law is known as a "shall-issue" law because the police are told they shall issue the permit. "Shall issue" laws strip law enforcement officials of their ability to deny permits even when they have legitimate concerns about the applicant and also strips them of their judgment of how best to protect public safety in their jurisdictions.

Ten states give law enforcement discretion in issuing permits. In these states, law enforcement "may" or "may not" issue a permit and are known as "may-issue" states. Four states do not require a permit to carry concealed handguns in public while one state forbids the carrying of concealed handguns.

Q. Is a "permit-to-carry" (CCW) the same thing as a "permit-to-purchase or possess" a gun?

A. No. Many more states have systems in place for permitting gun owners to carry concealed handguns in public than have systems for a "permit to purchase." If a state has both a "permit-to-carry" and a "permit-to-purchase/possess," each permit usually requires a different process. There are, however, more and more "shall-issue" states in which CCW permit holders are exempt from Brady background checks. In these states, the CCW permit acts like a "permit-to-purchase." The Brady Campaign opposes this exemption and believes that a Brady background check should be conducted on each and every gun purchase.
http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/publicplaces/carrying

[gejohnston]

6. Thanks for

reminding me not to read poorly written opinion pieces by people who don't know or research what they are talking about.

The bill is insane for so many reasons, but I'll give you just the important one. Gun laws in Montana, which has about six cowboys and a few horses and little else, should not be the same as gun laws in New York. And Florida. And other states with urban areas where gun violence is too commonplace.

Which has what to do with CCW? CCW and gun violence have nothing to do with each other. On the regional bigotry, this guy put it best:

icedtea at 10:56 AM November 27, 2011
Again Stein shows his elitist attitude by dissing Montana and those "flyover" states as though they are filled with single toothed, inbred morons. Well Stein, as a visitor to Montana I can tell you the people there are far more intelligent than you and your ilk. They are self sufficient and hard working people deserving of respect instead of your ire. You also constantly attack the other 90% of the state of Florida that live on farms and cattle ranches and raise the food you pick up at your local Publix. I don't see you doing any back breaking work accept dishing out smears from your comfy desk chair. Some of us out here in the Wild West feel the need to protect ourselves from the ever increasing home invasions and strong arm robberies occurring in our own backyards. We choose not to become the sniveling weakling you want us all to be in the face of crime. Maybe that works for you though.

Great argument, except for one thing. The intent of cars is for transportation. The intent of guns is to kill. But real nice try, Cliff.

But cars are doing a better job of it. Besides, if I understand correctly, if you get a CCW in Germany, it is good in all of the states.

The Brady folks have compiled a list of the states with the strongest and weakest carry permit framework. Try real hard to guess which list we are on.

Sarcasm as literary device. Nice, so what makes Florida's laws weak?

Six states are on the Brady weak list. Florida is there, natch, although a place like Vermont actually seems worse. Just my opinion, but picking up your dry cleaning might be more arduous than getting a concealed weapons permit in Florida.

Vermont seems worse? Does he do any research? Does he know what is involved? How about if he actually looked up the laws and discuss them rather than bitch about someone else's opinion of them.

And there is a feeling that many folks — trained or untrained — will get their concealed carry permit in Florida, because it is so simple, and then go about playing with their beloved guns anywhere they want. Don't look now, but we could become the concealed carry permit capital of the country.

I have a feeling that this guy has the critical thinking and writing skills of the average ditto head.

This is also proof — as if more were needed — the gun nuts and conservatives are complete hypocrites. They blather about states' rights, how the states should be able to do what is best for them without interference from the hated federal government. But if it involves the chance to put more guns into the hands of who-knows-who, those same conservatives forget all about states' rights, and holler that the federal government is brilliant, and all states need to follow the same law.

Makes both sides equally hypocritical, if we are to accept over simplistic arguments.

Interesting. Six states allow same-sex marriage, but conservatives would implode if somebody said all states should recognize that. But more concealed weapons — yep, every state has to do it the same way, so gun crazies don't have to worry about laws that change from state to state

Did he steal some straw from a zoo? Actually, the full faith and credit should apply to same sex marriage. What that has to do with "gun crazies" I have no fucking clue.

The gun battle will continue, until gun lovers get their wish of every single American having a gun with absolutely no restrictions.

more straw

And if you want to know who will be in the middle of all that craziness, don't follow the money. Just follow the map of Florida.

And he can follow the map out.

[aikoaiko]

7. How do I know you're failing, jpak? Because you have to resort to these types of columns to remain.

...in the conversation.

[SteveM]

8. GOP/Brady Center + prejudice against whole state = phony liberalism.

But stereotypes and prejudices are OK when a "liberal" finds a warm place to shit, isn't it?

[Simo 1939_1940]

9. The more jpak moves his lips, the more RKBA supporters win. NT

[krispos42]

10. Florida's homicide ranking was 15th nationwide

in 2009.




Try again.