FL: Gun Control Advocate Hopes State Outlaws Semiautomatic Weapons

[Harry Tuttle]

Sep 22, 2004


Gun Control Advocate Hopes State Outlaws Semiautomatic Weapons
By GEOFF FOX
[email protected]

NEW PORT RICHEY - Art Hayhoe can't fathom why a 10- year ban on semiautomatic weapons was allowed to expire this month.

During a news conference Tuesday at the Quality Inn and Suites on U.S. 19, Hayhoe, executive director of the Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and other gun-safety organizations, lambasted President Bush for failing to ``lobby Congress to lengthen the ban.''

Hayhoe hopes the ban will be reinstated in Florida by state legislators.

``Who in God's name wants to sell civilians fully militarized weapons of war that are designed to kill as many people [as possible] as fast as possible?'' he said to an audience of nine.

According to information distributed by the Violence Policy Center, semiautomatic weapons are more accurate than machine guns and military assault weapons. The center is a national nonprofit organization that works to establish policies that reduce ``gun-related death and injury.''

Unlike machine guns and military assault weapons, which can fire bullets as long as the trigger is pulled and the ammunition lasts, triggers of semiautomatic weapons must be pulled every time a round is fired, according to the Violence Policy Center.

Not that semiautomatic guns can't be fired rapidly. Hayhoe played a video of a man squeezing off 30 rounds from a semiautomatic weapon in seconds and quickly reloading.

``They talk about terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, yet they sell these things,'' said an incredulous Joann Ross, co-president of the Pasco County chapter of the National Organization for Women.

Hayhoe said he has lobbied local law enforcement agencies to support an extension of the semiautomatic weapons ban but couldn't get a response from Sheriff Bob White.

Darlene Greene, a contender for White's job who attended the news conference, said she didn't believe semiautomatic weapons should ``be on our streets.''

``The ban didn't keep these weapons out of people's hands, but I'm in support of extending the ban,'' she said. ``Citizens aren't meant to be the military and the police.''

Throughout the roughly 80- minute presentation, Hayhoe accused Bill Bunting, chairman of the Pasco Republican Executive Committee, of turning that organization into a ``Guns R Us club.''

Bunting also is affiliated with the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Club of America.

Hayhoe took shots without fear of rebuttal.

A sign that greeted people attending the presentation said: ``Bill Bunting and his supporters are not to be a part of this news conference.''


Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 948-4217.

This story can be found at: http://pasco.tbo.com/pasco/MGBGDTIXEZD.html

 

[Foreign Devil]

According to information distributed by the Violence Policy Center, semiautomatic weapons are more accurate than machine guns and military assault weapons. The center is a national nonprofit organization that works to establish policies that reduce ``gun-related death and injury.''

Well then, if that's the case I don't see the problem with legalizing machine guns.

 

[Spot77]

A sign that greeted people attending the presentation said: ``Bill Bunting and his supporters are not to be a part of this news conference

Wah, wah, wah....crying little baby can't stand to have somebody smash his lies at his opinion conference of NINE PEOPLE????

 

[armoredman]

With Jeb Bush in the Govs office, and Fla being the first shall-issue state, this guy is smoking crack.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

9 people

1 speaker
X reporters
X club members
X undercover RKBA folke

sounds like the Brady's press conference on the assault rifle ban back in 2002

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

I live just a few miles from where this A-hole spoke.



If he F'ing nutz? An AWB in Florida state??? ROFLLLAMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



This is the most gun-happy state. Our legislature passes PROTECTIVE, PRO_GUN laws, not anti-gun laws. There is a snowballs chance in hell an AWB ban would ever pass here. No way at all. This State passed laws against back-door registration schemes that are the toughest in the nation. This State has passed very protective laws for shooting ranges. And dishes out CWP's to those who qualify with no questions asked.


This is why the filthy anti-right, anti-gun liberals work at the federal level. They can't touch us locally, so they have to impose their will on us. This guy is a clown. It is a mircale he even got 9 whole people there. If you know Pasco county, you'll quickly figure he is probably the only anti-gun person there.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

LOL, sorry for the double post, but the idea of banning AW's in Florida is like banning homosexual sex in SanFrancisco...Good luck!

 

[Leatherneck]

GEOFF FOX needs to get a life. Why would a reporter show up at an announced "rally" where he and the speaker comprised a quarter of the attendees?
Especially when a sign says

``Bill Bunting and his supporters are not to be a part of this news conference.''

Agenda, perhaps? What trash.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Carlos]

Pathetically funny.

How come all these people say exactly the same thing about AWs?? Bunch of broken records all of this country, including my pal Ginny Burdick, here in Oregon, who wants her own AWB.

 

[jnojr]

"Citizens aren't meant to be the military and the police"

Reeeaaalllyyy???

Then who shoul be? Our insect overlords? Is there an elite caste I've just never heard of?

 

[Pilgrim]

My letter to Mr. Fox.

Pilgrim

Dear Mr. Fox,

I couldn't help but interject my comments on Mr. Hayhoe's press conference since he made a point of excluding opposing points of view, and you didn't bother to go interview the Sheriff or Mr. Bill Bunting.

http://pasco.tbo.com/pasco/MGBGDTIXEZD.html

- Art Hayhoe can't fathom why a 10- year ban on semiautomatic weapons was allowed to expire this month. -

Maybe it is because the "ban" really didn't ban anything except accessories that have no effect on how a semi-automatic rifle functions. Also, there was no discernable decrease in crime as a result of the "ban".

- ``Who in God's name wants to sell civilians fully militarized weapons of war that are designed to kill as many people [as possible] as fast as possible?'' he said to an audience of nine. -

Every firearm at one time was a military weapon. The stock in trade bolt action hunter's rifle was once a revolutionary design invented by Paul and Wilhelm Mauser in the late nineteenth century and utilized extensively in World War I and II.

- According to information distributed by the Violence Policy Center, semiautomatic weapons are more accurate than machine guns and military assault weapons. -

The Violence Policy Center is well known for making up "facts" to suit their agenda. The semiautomatic weapons VPC and Mr Hayhoe wants to "ban" are no more accurate than the military versions of the same weapon. The only difference between the two is the civilian version can not have the capability to fire fully automatic. If the civilian version is more "accurate", it is because the owner has spent considerable expense and time to make it more accurate. This is not something your average criminal is likely to do.

Machine guns are by definition not accurate weapons. What is the point of putting bullets in the same hole in battle? Machine guns deliver their bullets in an area pattern, called a "beaten zone". The purpose of the beaten zone is to suppress the activity of the enemy by driving them into cover from which they can't return fire.

- Not that semiautomatic guns can't be fired rapidly. Hayhoe played a video of a man squeezing off 30 rounds from a semiautomatic weapon in seconds and quickly reloading. -

Rapid fire is not accurate fire. I used to train peace officers when I was a deputy sheriff in California. In my experience, rapid fire results in rapid misses.

- Hayhoe said he has lobbied local law enforcement agencies to support an extension of the semiautomatic weapons ban but couldn't get a response from Sheriff Bob White. -

Perhaps the Sheriff does not see "assault weapons" as a significant issue in preventing crime.

- Darlene Greene, a contender for White's job who attended the news conference, said she didn't believe semiautomatic weapons should ``be on our streets.''

``The ban didn't keep these weapons out of people's hands, but I'm in support of extending the ban,'' she said. ``Citizens aren't meant to be the military and the police.'' -

It appears that Ms Greene doesn't understand the foolishness of her statement. "The ban didn't work, but I support it anyway."

Citizens aren't the military or the police, but they are the foundation of maintaining our freedoms. I noticed after the last two hurricanes there was little mention of looting in the aftermath. Perhaps that is because I saw a number of news photographs of people defending their homes and property with firearms in their hands.

- Hayhoe took shots without fear of rebuttal. -

How courageous of Mr. Hayhoe.

Bruce Stanton
Hayden, ID

 

[Hawk]

Perhaps Mr. Fox is one of us, or neutral.
Pretend you're undecided and read it again.


...he said to an audience of nine...
...said an incredulous Joann Ross...
...Darlene Greene...who attended the news conference...
plus the reporter.

Mr. Fox has made it pretty clear that a lot of attendees were ax-grinders. I count three not including at least one reporter. It was real clear the ban wasn't about machine guns (breath of fresh air, that)

Hayhoe took shots without fear of rebuttal.

Is not a complimentary remark for Hayhoe coming from a journalist.

The thing came off as a joke and I'm wondering if it wasn't intended to do exactly that.

Having said that(r), I'm too worn out from the last month to email and ask, or even care, for that matter.

 

[ClonaKilty]

Joann Ross, co-president of the Pasco County chapter of the National Organization for Women.

Joann, of course, forms 50% of the chapter's membership....

 

[TarpleyG]

"The ban didn't keep these weapons out of people's hands, but I'm in support of extending the ban,'' she said.

Are we sure this wasn't John Kerry talking here?

Greg

 

[Atticus]

Hmmmm.....probably nine recent east coast immigrants to the "Gunshine state".

 

[El Tejon]

9 people showed up? Nine?

I could get nine people to show up for a "I'll punch you in the face" rally in downtown Lafayette. Geez, nine!

 

[Skofnung]

HA!

What a Moron. What a coward.

He needs to go back to where he came from.

Hey Mr. Hayhoe:

If you don't like our laws, why don't you
GET OUT OF MY FAIR STATE!

 

[Moparmike]

I think that a snowball has a greater chance in Hell than his lobbying efforts.




Remind me to become a Sherrif some day so I can point and laugh in the faces of "lobbyists" like this guy.

 

[Stand_Watie]

That was before the {homosexuals} ruined it. I knew those places all, back then.

I'd venture that what you meant by that was that people with a statist, anti-gun socialist agenda ruined it. Even if members of a particular sub-group are more likely to fit that definition, I think you'd be throwing out the baby with the bathwater to alienate the members of that group who agree with the aims of THR.

 

[C-Note]

I love Google. Seems like Mr. Hayhoe was running for the Florida House seat in District 61 but he botched his paperwork and is not eligible to run.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/20/Pasco/Would_be_candidate_to.shtml

Being a candidate for public office, Hayhoe's personal information is public.
http://www.pcyds.org/Candidates.htm

Art Hayhoe
5828 Pennyroyal Rd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
813-991-9584

If anyone is interested in writing Mr. Hayhoe a letter, or phoning him in order to debate the finer points on Gun-Grabbery. please feel free.

 

[tyme]

According to information distributed by the Violence Policy Center, semiautomatic weapons are more accurate than machine guns and military assault weapons.

JC on a pogo stick. What will they do when they discover that bolt-action rifles are more accurate than semi-auto? Silly me. They already know. They're just waiting for an opportune time to lobby for a ban on those, too.

Oh, and what's the difference between a machine gun and a military assault weapon?

They talk about terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, yet they sell these things,'' said an incredulous Joann Ross, co-president of the Pasco County chapter of the National Organization for Women.

If these idiots can't tell the difference between terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and selling firearms (to government-certified law abiding citizens when the seller is an FFL), I'd suggest they seek therapy. Beginning with a brain transplant from a more intelligent animal. A dog, for instance.

 

[Gray Peterson]

That was before the queers ruined it. I knew those places all, back then.

Us "queers" didn't ruin anything.

 

[MPFreeman]

Nine.

Meanwhile I heard a rumor that thousands attend gun shows every weekend in Florida. But those nine folks are the real news story.

 

[wasrjoe]

Why was this even reported? I've gotten more people to come watch me pick up dog poo before.

 

[io333]

Us "queers" didn't ruin anything.

Well, I kind of think you helped. Not you personally, but homosexuals in the 60's through present day -- though less today than then. Here's how: they supported, en masse, the left. I understand why, at the time it seemed an obviously a good idea, and certainly worked to major advantage in many areas of the day to day existance of everyone gay. But having the left in control of SF for so many years has also caused great disadvantage to everyone in many other areas of life not related to sexuality.


Without gay support, the left could not have so completely conquered that once amazing city. It's still pretty nice, but a far cry from what it once was.