NRA-ILA: Florida Records 4 Victories for Gun Owners

[Red Wind]

The Florida House Judiciary Committee passed one pro RKBA proposal per the NRA-ILA for open carry. Now to be voted on in the full House where it almost certainly will pass.

Then to the Senate where the Open carry proposal faces a more difficult path to success. If it does pass the Senate, Governor Scott will sign the bill, restoring OC to Floridians after 29 years.

3 other bills passed easily in the Senate and now go to the House.

Here is the article.

HB-163, Open Carry by Rep. Matt Gaetz was heard in the House Judiciary Committee and PASSED by a Vote of 12-4. All Republicans and one Democrat voted in favor of the bill.

It was a 2 1/2 hour hearing during which opponents of the bill, primarily the Florida Sheriffs Association, tried unsuccessfully to gut the bill.

HB-163 is a bill to allow persons with a Concealed Weapons & Firearms License to carry firearms concealed or openly which will prevent CW license holders from being charged with the crime of violating the "Open Carry" law because a concealed firearm, being legally carried, accidentally or inadvertently becomes visible to the sight of another person.

Hopefully, all concerned Floridians will get behind this proposal. Only 5 states now prevent general open carry. Lets make it 4.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Sweeeet !!! :

 

[Dan Forrester]

Definitely good news. However it's companion bill in the senate (SB 300) is still in the rules committee. According to Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (Republican -Miami) he will not allow the bill to be heard so it can be voted on and get out of his committee.

It looks like he is just going to hold it there until the legislative session ends.

Dan

 

[barnbwt]

Pro-gun Democrats, anti-gun Republicans...that state is a mad house! Sounds much like the ordeal Texas went through getting OC, and that means if you don't get it this term, it'll happen eventually. Probably after the issue is brought to the cities, as the much-maligned OC Protestor folks did in Texas. Florida will be a huge win; until Texas, there weren't many large population center states with this freedom, and Florida following suit will be very helpful in getting another good chunk of the net population on board with OC & gun freedom in general. Constitutional Carry is a battle for a later day; baby steps.

Ya'll just need to pass a law requiring holsters (muzzles) on rednecks' jaws, and the addition of guns won't raise any eyebrows (just joshin' you Floridians; Texas obviously has its share of feral men, also )

TCB

 

[Red Wind]

Pro-gun Democrats, anti-gun Republicans...that state is a mad house!

Yeah, it becomes quite infuriating when a "Cuban-American" GOP State Senator tries to act like a tin horn Harry Reid and refuses to let a measure go to the floor.

All the pressure we can muster should be brought to bear to make the Senator realize that millions of Floridians want a Senate vote on Open Carry.

Here is the Senators address, phone and email. Let's let him hear from us.

 

[Red Wind]

The full Florida House passed OC and campus carry bills yesterday. That's the good news. The bad news is they will probably be blocked again in a divided Senate, per this Florida Times-Union report.

TALLAHASSEE | The Florida House approved “campus carry” and “open carry” gun bills largely along party lines Wednesday evening. But the measures are likely dead in the Senate, where there is bipartisan opposition.

 

[ak-kev]

Hey Red, lets hope for the best. I wrote my rep. this morning asking what we can do to have this guy at least let the Senate vote on the bills. She is Kelly Stargel and is on the judiciary committee. She has voted in favor of open carry in the past.

I cant understand how one person can decide what bills the Senate can vote on? I would personally never open carry (except when fishing or hiking) but I feel as if its "infringement" that we cant. Kevin.

 

[Red Wind]

I cant understand how one person can decide what bills the Senate can vote on? I would personally never open carry (except when fishing or hiking) but I feel as if its "infringement" that we cant. Kevin.

I understand how you feel, Kevin. Senator Harry Reid, D- Nevada, held up dozens of bills for years while Majority Leader. Now we have Florida State Senator, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Republican from Miami, using the same tactic.

It is tremendously frustrating.

 

[HRnightmare]

I too can't seem to understand why one man can ruin the ability for this to be voted on. Can someone explain it cuz I can't seem to find any explanation online either formation point

 

[ak-kev]

Well, I got a reply from Kelli Stargel's office, but its not what we want to hear...



Mr. Logue,

There is no way to force Senator Diaz de la Portilla to hear the bill in the Senate
Judiciary Committee. Per Senate rules, as Chair of the Committee, he alone sets the
agenda for its meetings.

If you have further questions, feel free to reply to me via email or to call our district
office at the number below.

Thank you,

Chris Dowdy
Legislative Assistant
Senator Kelli Stargel
863-668-3028

 

[Red Wind]

So, same as the U.S. Senate. We have the bad luck to have this RINO as our Harry Reid.

Thanks for the information,Kevin.

 

[ak-kev]

Your very welcome Red....It looks like all we can do is write the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and express our interest in allowing a Senate vote. I dont know what else to do. Kevin.

 

[Red Wind]

I emailed and snail mailed his office over a week ago about this issue of SB300. No answer yet and I don't expect to ever get one.

 

[Glock_10mm]

Florida is crazy, I just thank God that our capitol is in the deep south...ie North FL, and is very conservative. And at least there is forward progress towards pro-gun, and not anti-gun legislation.

 

[HRnightmare]

How is a chair appointed

 

[Jlr2267]

We have the same problem in S. Carolina (1 of only 5 states where open carry is illegal). One legislator (head of Judiciary Comm.) thwarts the process on any bill he deems unacceptable to him personally. He's a republican.

 

[Red Wind]

How is a chair appointed?

Here is the Florida Senate website:

http://www.flsenate.gov/committees

The Senate President names the chairs and members of all Senate committees, while the Speaker of the House names the chairs and members of all House committees

 

[Dan Forrester]

I guess that would be Senator Andy Gardner (R) from district 13 in the Orlando area. Looks like Senator Gardner is no friend of ours:

http://www.ammoland.com/2015/04/flo...rders-campus-carry-bill-killed/#axzz3ztlaBGAn

http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/10/campus-carry-bill-could-be-in-trouble/25583325/

Dan

 

[ak-kev]

Here is a little update fellas...I just got a second e-mail and thought I would share it.





Good afternoon Mr. Logue,

Senator Stargel asked me to send you a quick email and let you know that she has been
asking Senator Diaz de la Portilla to put SB 300, the so-called "open-carry"
bill, on the Judiciary Committee agenda. Unfortunately, it is the chairman's prerogative
to choose what bills to put on an agenda. There is a Judiciary meeting next week, and the
bill is not on the agenda. There might be one more meeting the following week, but many
committees are wrapping up and not meeting anymore this session. You may want to call
Senator Diaz de la Portilla's office and ask them to tell the senator that you want the
bill on the agenda. His office number is 850-487-5040.

Senator Stargel supports the bill, and if it is brought before her in committee and on
the Senate floor, she will debate in support of it and vote for it. Thanks for contacting
our office, and let me know if there is anything else we can do for you.

Kind regards,


Chad A. Davis, Esq.
Legislative Aide
Senator Kelli Stargel, District 15
(850) 487-5015 :: Tallahassee
(863) 668-3028 :: Lakeland
[email protected]

 

[Red Wind]

Thank you, Kevin. It's very sad, but it appears that Open Carry will not become law in Florida in 2016. Knowing Senator Diaz de la Portilla as I do, I do not believe he will ever allow SB300 to come to a floor vote.

We certainly appreciate Senator Kelli Stargel's fine efforts.

 

[Jlr2267]

These Republican's blocking progress behave as if they're on Bloomberg's payroll.

 

[Dan Forrester]

As per the post by ak-kev it looks like there will be one more judiciary meeting this week.

I think its too late for emails so lets all try to call his office tomorrow. Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla number at his office in Tallahassee is (850) 487-5040

When you call you will be talking to one of the senators assistants; probably Patricia Gosney. Just be polite tell the assistant you see he has a 93% NRA rating and would really appreciate if he put SB 300 supporting open carry on the agenda this week. Just say something simple like that and be polite.

Thanks, Dan

 

[Dan Forrester]

What the hell I put out another email too:

Senator Diaz de la Portilla,

Please consider putting SB 300 supporting open carry on the agenda this week. I appreciate your 93% NRA rating and the work you have done in support of our rights in the past.

All I ask is that you put it on the agenda and let the members of the Judiciary Committee cast their votes.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Dan Forrester

 

[Red Wind]

You are certainly doing your best ,Dan. I can't hear on the phone, so my avidly pro gun daughter is calling his office tomorrow in my stead. We have nothing to lose.

 

[HRnightmare]

I don't understand how this is the process in a democratic system? One person literally has the ability to not allow the entire state something.

I also don't understand how his office and he think this is not ridiculous. Whether he agrees with open carry or not, clearly he does not how arrogant and disgusting that he allows his opinions to get in the way of the process.