ATTENTION Floridians!!!

[Don't Tread On Me]

If you are a gun owner, and a Floridian - this post is for you.


As you know, our 2 current US Senators are both Democrats, and anti-gun. Graham and Nelson both voted for the AWB. Graham is retiring and his seat is up for grabs. The most popular Democrat running is Peter Deutch, a rabidly anti-gun liberal.



on AUGUST 31st, 2004 there will be a Senate primary.


The major Republican choices are: McCollum (ran against Nelson in 2000 and lost) Gallagher, Martinez, and Byrd.


If you want an extremely pro-gun Republican candidate for Senate, I highly suggest you get your ASS out and vote for BYRD.

http://www.johnniebyrd.com/iss-johnnie-byrd-protect-constitutional-rights.asp


The polls show that McCollum is in the lead, with Martinez 2nd. You must remember that in Senate primaries - voter turn out is pathetically low. Poll numbers are out of whack because they are based on small numbers(some as small as 300 likely voters with 40% undecided...some poll ) ...If just a portion of Florida gun owners got out to vote in the primary, you can beat the whole game by putting a defender of the 2nd Amendment in the race.


Do not let a RINO win. Florida is a great pro gun state, the last thing we want is another anti-gunner who will be voting FOR future assault weapons bans and other anti-gun legislation.

The time is now, there will never be another time when leveraging organized PRO-gun vote power will be as effective as small, largely ignored primaries...seize the opportunity!!


With such small turn out in primaries, a good internet RUSH of support can put BYRD in for us. If you are from Florida, tell every gun owner you know, tell your family, tell everyone at your Range or Gun Club, tell your shooting buddies, tell everyone----get out on AUGUST 31st!!!!


If you don't, then you have NO reason to ever bitch about laws and politicians. The opportunity is here and now. Get out and make a difference.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

If you want an extremely pro-gun Republican candidate for Senate, I highly suggest you get your ASS out and vote for BYRD.

Thats a sophisticated way to word your request.

 

[nero45acp]

He's got my vote.

The St. Petersburg Times hates him, so I know he must be OK!


nero

 

[buy guns]

you should have put this on floridashootersnetwork.com but i took care of that for you

http://www.floridashootersnetwork.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php3?p=20114#20114

 

[Daedalus]

Out of curiosity what are the stances of the other candidates on gun issues? McCollum does not have anything on his website discussing the 2nd, whereas Mel Martinez has this:

As a gun owner, sportsman and as your next United States Senator I will always vote to protect our Second Amendment rights. I know first hand what can happen when government limits gun rights.

As a child I witnessed the communist takeover of Cuba. One of the first things Castro did when he came to power was to confiscate our guns. Then he slowly took away our other freedoms religious, speech, and dissent until finally government controlled every facet of people’s lives.

As your United States Senator, I will always vote on the side of freedom and our right to keep and bear arms.
-- Mel Martinez

from http://www.melforsenate.org/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.Detail&Issue_id=21

Seems to me that he knows the real intent of the 2nd Amendment and is a man just as trustworthy on that issue as Byrd.

 

[Dan Forrester]

From www.johnniebyrd.com

Sanctity of Marriage
Speaker Johnnie Byrd has vigorously defended the sanctity of marriage against the homosexual lobby and Johnnie wrote and passed one of the most sweeping Defense of Marriage Acts in the country (HB 147 of 1997) that banned same-sex marriages in Florida. He supports President Bush’s call for a constitutional amendment to do the same for the nation.

Abortion and Stem-Cell Research
Speaker Johnnie Byrd is an avowed pro-life champion. He is endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee because of his commitment to the sanctity of life. He strongly opposes embryonic stem cell research, knowing that other research methods hold great promise to cure disease withtout killing embryos.

Faith-based Institutions
Speaker Johnnie Byrd has repeatedly sponsored government supported faith based initiatives in the areas of childcare and education. Again, however, the more liberal Florida Senate has blocked his attempts to expand government grants to faith-based charities.

Sounds like some hyper Christian fruit cake to me.

No thanks

Dan

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

From the tacked Senate guide:

Florida:
No incumbent. Graham (D) Retiring.

Johhnie Byrd (R) - GOA NR, No info on website - worked to pass NRA legislation in Florida House

Larry Klayman (R) - GOA NR, no gun related info; but endorsed by Bob Barr and Alan Keyes. Attended Second Amendment Sisters rally.

Mel Martinez (R) - GOA NR, Only candidate to mention the Second Amendment on his website. Goes into specifics on "safe issues" but dodges thorny ones like AWB renewal. Along with McCollum, leads in the polls.

Bill McCollum (R) - GOA NR, No mention of gun issues on website; but opposed Brady in 1994. Along with Martinez, leads in the polls.

Dan Webster (R) - GOA NR, No info or website

Robert C. Smith (R) - GOA A+, Wrote an amicus brief on gun rights with Larry Craig. Former Senator from New Hampshire, strong pro-gun record, sponsored numerous GOA bills.

Doug Gallagher (R) - GOA NR, no info or website

Betty Castor (D) - GOA NR, supports Brady Bill

Peter Deutsch (D) - GOA F-, Supports Brady bill, supports AWB renewal, claims he doesn't want your long guns. Leads Dem primary.

Alex Penelas (D) - GOA NR, Miami-Dade Mayor who sponsored lawsuits against gun industry

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Well check it out.....




Byrd is an ultra-conservative who stands firm on all conservative values.


Byrd = God, Guns and Country 100%,,, He is our good ole' boy.


He was the man who rammed that legislation through to prevent Terri Schiavo from being taken off of life support.



Martinez is by far the 2nd best for the 2nd Amendment on that list. He might be the better choice as he has a far better chance against McCollum, who I think is a RINO.


Perhaps McCollum is against AWB and other legislation, but I cannot find a word (and neither can anyone else) about his stance on guns at all. He is dodging the issue in a State that loves guns. He probably is a RINO.



Martinez is only a few points behind McCollum, perhaps voting for Martinez is of greater value since we only need to make up a few points, and gun owners can do that.



I think a hispanic would be great as he can soak up all of South Florida vs that slimey ???? bag named Deutch (neo-socialist liberal) Martinez is also a big Bush supporter and worked under Bush.




Time will tell, still a couple of weeks...need to watch the polls (which are crappy, but we have nothing else) and see how this pans out. It **MIGHT** be counter productive to vote for an underdog like Byrd,,,Byrd could act like Martinez's Perot and let McCollum walk right in.


Just speculating here, I am guessing that the polls might be right, but then again, polls with 50% undecided aren't exactly accurate at all.......

 

[Daedalus]

Time will tell, still a couple of weeks...need to watch the polls (which are crappy, but we have nothing else) and see how this pans out. It **MIGHT** be counter productive to vote for an underdog like Byrd,,,Byrd could act like Martinez's Perot and let McCollum walk right in.

My exact concern. I am voting for Mel and think mobilizing Gun owners to support him is a much better option.

 

[MarkDido]

This is going to be a difficult choice for me.

I don't really care for Mel Martinez, being a trial lawyer and all.....

But I think he has the name recognition and the track record as Orange County Chairman and as part of the Bush Administration to be the most viable Republican candidate to give the democratic challenger a run for his money in Florida.

To me, and in my opinion, many Floridians and gun owners, what is at stake shouldn't be decided on a single issue (2A Rights)

If Martinez can win, Florida will have 1 republican and 1 democratic senator, unlike our current 2 Democrat composition.

It would also put another Republican in the Senate, which is currently 50 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and 1 moron (Independent and former Republican Jim Jeffords of Vermont))

If enough Republicans can win in November, the composition of the Senate may swing for the Republicans, and break this phony "gentleman's filibuster" that currently exists.

 

[Mulliga]

Perhaps McCollum is against AWB and other legislation, but I cannot find a word (and neither can anyone else) about his stance on guns at all. He is dodging the issue in a State that loves guns. He probably is a RINO.

McCollum vs. Schumer on the AWB (a bit old, but still valid) ...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/congress/gun_ban_3-21.html

McCollum is a bit more progressive than the other candidates, but he is certainly pro-gun.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

On another note, the recent issue of the American Rifleman notes that Byrd recently received a lifetime achievement award (forget the exact name) from the NRA for his work in the Florida House.

 

[fallingblock]

Thanks for the update......

As an "overseas Floridian", It's difficult for me to keep up with the candidates' views.

Martinez has at least tried to convince me he is a friend of gunowners, but those of you on the scene have the opportunity to more accurately assess the candidates.

Please continue.

 

[bigal66]

Democrats are spinless wimps antigun

vote them out tar and feathers!

 

[TarpleyG]

My wife and I are both NPA so we cannot vote in a Primary. Sounds like Byrd has the best chance to get the nod against McCollum for the Republican seat. I doubt this Martinez guy can compete. Whatever happens, we have to keep Deutsch out in the General Election or we're gonna have another Graham on our hands.

Greg

 

[fallingblock]

Hi TarpleyG.....

I'm NPA also, just voting for local council and judges.

Why do you think that Byrd has a better chance than Martinez?
I don't know enough about either candidate....

I agree that we have to keep Deutsch out!

 

[VaniB.]

McCollum had been around for many years. I didn't follow him closely as he was not a representative of my state, but always thought of him as a friend of the 2nd amendment.(Besides It's hard not to like a Republican who looks like George Jetson) Perhaps my recollection is wrong? Inform me if so.

 

[WilderBill]

From over here on the other side of the Gulf, I'd say Martinez would be the best choice overall.
From what I can see he might rate a B or a C, if he were rated by GOA or NRA, but that is far better to have than a definate F.
He seems to have more name reconition and could bring in some hispanic votes, which would be good for Bush in a place he needs a little help.

 

[feedthehogs]

I've had private conversations with JB.

Two things.
He is not real supportive of assault weapons. Sees no need for them.
That speaks for itself.

Back in March he tried to get a 2.00 tax passed on new gun purchases to clean up private ranges.

"There may be some way we can have a fee that is directly paid by the sale of guns or ammunition or something like that, " Byrd told reporters.

My opinon is he can't be trusted.

He is looking for the Governors house down the road and will promise anything right now.

Martinez is my pick.

Do not go by what the NRA says or does in supporting politicians.
I have been an EVC for years and they have given candidates who are clearly anti-gun, positive support down here.

Look what they did in PA.

 

[VaniB.]

Do not go by what the NRA says or does in supporting politicians.

Oh, Ok..... I guess I should of gone against the NRA last time and voted for Gore. And this time when the NRA endorses Bush (which will rightfully take place after he kills the AWB) , I should vote for Kerry?

 

[feedthehogs]

Reading comprehension around here is pretty poor.

I never said go against the NRA.

I said don't go by what they recommend.

The lazy will just look at their list and if they vote at all, they will vote as the NRA recommends.

Take the time to find out on your own who the best candidate is.
If it coincides with the NRA, then fine.

Just because JB got an award from the NRA doesn't make him the best guy for the job.

The NRA has been known to be wrong on occasion................................

This is not an NRA bash, so please spare me the banter.

 

[Daedalus]

Oh, Ok..... I guess I should of gone against the NRA last time and voted for Gore. And this time when the NRA endorses Bush (which will rightfully take place after he kills the AWB) , I should vote for Kerry?

That is a really nice strawman you have there, mind if I take a picture?