President Obama has unveiled plans to tighten enforcement of gun laws; meanwhile in Florida the gun lobby will be pushing at least three changes to gun laws during the upcoming Florida legislative session.
Last month WMNF News asked Ed Narain, a Democratic State Representative from Tampa, about all three. We started by asking if gun owners with concealed carry permits should be able to bring their guns onto state college and university campuses.
“Absolutely not. You know, I’m a concealed weapons permit holder and I believe there’s a place for that in our society. But when I think about a college student – 21 years old – and that’s all we’re talking about: 21-year-olds and up being able to carry a firearm onto a campus concealed or otherwise, I think it’s just bad policy.”
What about (legalizing the) open carry (of firearms in Florida)?
“(Laughs). Open carry is even more disastrous for the state. I mean, look, we’re not Texas. And as much as some legislators might want us to be like Texas when it comes down to their economic packages and the things they’ve been able to do for their state over there – we don’t need open carry. I mean, we’ve got Walt Disney World, we’ve got Universal Studios, we’ve got Busch Gardens right here in our backyard and the idea of someone being able to carry a firearm into those theme parks would be disastrous for our tourism. Even if there is an exemption carved out – which I’ve heard about – there are blogs dedicated to people trying to sneak a firearm in. This would be dangerous policy for our citizens and our tourists.”
Finally, changes to the Stand Your Ground law that look like they might happen.
“We’re hopeful that they won’t. It did not pass the House committee. And what we see is a Senate that has decided to take it up despite the House killing it in committee. So we’re going to have to fight this again. As the chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus I can tell you we’ve taken a caucus position – all 26 of our members – that any of the gun bills, including this change to Stand Your Ground, we’re going to be completely against. It’s really unfair to shift the burden of proof from the person that’s doing the shooting to the person that was shot. Especially if that person is now deceased. It’s not right for our justice system at all.”
25 Responses to “Tampa Democrat opposes three Florida gun bills”
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So to sum it up, Ed Narain thinks 21 year olds are not adults, open carry somehow won’t work in Florida as it does in 45 other states, and you should have to run for your life when attacked.
These psychopaths want people to get killed because it furthers the agenda of gun control.
Then their logic is faulty as every time it happens, more and more people buy guns.
What a damned shame! That pile of guns could be used in a school to teach weapons safety, or used in a summer camp. But your “buyback,” where you buy guns with taxpayer money is stupid, and nets good weapons that we need. We need to get a law in the state that all guns that are taken this way need to be sold by the police department within a certain length of time.
Note (6). Are you aware of any LEAs selling the firearms to benefit the State School Fund? I’m not.
790.08 Taking possession of weapons and arms; reports; disposition; custody.—
(1) Every officer making an arrest under s. 790.07, or under any other law or municipal ordinance within the state, shall take possession of any weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms mentioned in s. 790.07 found upon the person arrested and deliver them to the sheriff of the county, or the chief of police of the municipality wherein the arrest is made, who shall retain the same until after the trial of the person arrested.
(2) If the person arrested as aforesaid is convicted of violating s. 790.07, or of a similar offense under any municipal ordinance, or any other offense involving the use or attempted use of such weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms, such weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms shall become forfeited to the state, without any order of forfeiture being necessary, although the making of such an order shall be deemed proper, and such weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms shall be forthwith delivered to the sheriff by the chief of police or other person having custody thereof, and the sheriff is hereby made the custodian of such weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms for the state.
(3) If the person arrested as aforesaid is acquitted of the offenses mentioned in subsection (2), the said weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms taken from the person as aforesaid shall be returned to him or her; however, if he or she fails to call for or receive the same within 60 days from and after his or her acquittal or the dismissal of the charges against him or her, the same shall be delivered to the sheriff as aforesaid to be held by the sheriff as hereinafter provided. This subsection shall likewise apply to persons and their weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms who have heretofore been acquitted or the charges against them dismissed.
(4) All such weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms now in, or hereafter coming into, the hands of any of the peace officers of this state or any of its political subdivisions, which have been found abandoned or otherwise discarded, or left in their hands and not reclaimed by the owners shall, within 60 days, be delivered by such peace officers to the sheriff of the county aforesaid.
(5) Weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms coming into the hands of the sheriff pursuant to subsections (3) and (4) aforesaid shall, unless reclaimed by the owner thereof within 6 months from the date the same come into the hands of the said sheriff, become forfeited to the state, and no action or proceeding for their recovery shall thereafter be maintained in this state.
(6) Weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms coming into the hands of the sheriff as aforesaid shall be listed, kept, and held by him or her as custodian for the state. Any or all such weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms suitable for use by the sheriff may be so used. All such weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms not needed by the said sheriff may be loaned to any other department of the state or to any county or municipality having use for such weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms. The sheriff shall take the receipt of such other department, county, or municipality for such weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms loaned to them. All weapons, electric weapons or devices, and arms which are not needed or which are useless or unfit for use shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the sheriff as provided in chapter 705 or as provided in the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. All sums received from the sale or other disposition of the said weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms disposed of by the sheriff under chapter 705 as aforesaid shall be paid into the State Treasury for the benefit of the State School Fund and shall become a part thereof. All sums received from the sale or other disposition of any such weapons, electric weapons or devices, or arms disposed of by the sheriff under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act shall be disbursed as provided therein.
(7) This section does not apply to any municipality in any county having home rule under the State Constitution.
Did open carry help prevent the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, etc. Just saying’…”Please carry on, nothing to see here…”
Guns arent aloud in elementary schools. So of course it didnt. Were working on that dont worry.
…’allowed’ and ‘aloud’ have differnt meanuns…thanks for playin…
You can thank my text to speech. Anyway my spelling doesnt change the fact that you are an idiot so thanks for playing yourself.
Andre Derr, apologies for bustin’ you ’bout your dam bad spellin and
grammar. I was just bein’ ornery. Trust me, I’d just as soon buy all
y’all a beer than talk about this gun stuff. This is a great country but
remember what makes it great…we all have got to learn to agree to
disagree. peace.
Can’t argue the facts, plays grammar Nazi to save face.
…someone didn’t get their nap today…”Mommy , can we feed it?” “No, honey. It is wildlife that was permanently injured a long time ago and is just being made comfortable for the rest of its life” “Oooh, that’s nice.”
Thanks for proving my point. Still has no cogent argument.
Sorry Rich, I was just bustin’ you..don’t worry, I am not on anyone’s side. The good ole USA has all the guns anyone could want. I don’t hate guns. They matter to me in real ways like hunting or managing a population of critters where the top predators have been eliminated or mostly eliminated. 7 billion of us on this planet. A ton of knuckleheads on heroin. Few jobs that that make you feel like you’re doing something important. Andre Derr, apologies for bustin’ you ’bout your dam bad spellin and grammar. I was just bein’ ornery. Trust me, I’d just as soon buy all y’all a beer than talk about this gun stuff. This is a great country but remember what makes it great…we all have got to learn to agree to disagree. peace.
No, nor is it intended to. Personal carry, concealed or otherwise, is meant to protect the carrier, not the general public. But in that same light, did background checks, waiting periods, or any gun control initiative in restrictive Connecticut PREVENT Sandy Hook? Did armed law enforcement PREVENT it?
Just sayin’.
There you go with those pesky facts again. The left doesnt speak fact so i think your reply is in vain.
Sorry Andrew, but I’ve had the logic over emotion disease since I was a child.
do they even make holsters that will fit an elementary school kid so as to “protect the carrier”. An aside:”But in that same Light…” is a ‘straw man’…”it’s like punchin’ a clock and gettin’ no pay…dang!”
Inane comments like that one are the reason gun control is in its death throes. But keep ’em coming. It helps our side!
What about that Stand Your Ground comment? ” It’s really unfair to shift the burden of proof from the person that’s doing the shooting to the person that was shot.” I thought the burden of proof was now on the STATE. Richard?
Not at a pretrial immunity hearing.
In fact, current session bills HB169 and SB344 restore the burden of proof to the State, as it should be.
Theme parks are private property and set their guest conduct rules as they please. He knows this and is either intentionally deceitful or ?
I think you nailed it at “intentionally deceitful”.
Open carry society is polite society, think it through. Having a gun is reason for others to not use one.Guns pulled need to look around and think.Chicago has gun laws that make lawbreakers the feel safe , 911 is far from on site.Violence in Chicago is third world or worse. Open carry makes laws close to home, who might be carrying, not who we can punk. Thank You.