Another horrific gun massacre is dominating the headlines,
this time out of Parkland, Florida. Seventeen
people were murdered at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School campus by a
raging juvenile delinquent. This is the second gun massacre in Florida in
the last two years. And of course, the politicization of another gun massacre has
ensued. The Democrats in the US Senate like Chris Murphy of “gun registry”
Connecticut are demanding more gun control: “We must get guns off our streets!
We must stop this disease of gun violence! The Republicans are in bondage to
the NRA! We need to stop their control of our legislative process!”
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There is neither need nor further value in exposing the
falsehoods of these old, tired arguments from the gun-control trigger-happy Left.
In fact, one of the happier outcomes from this disaster is that President Trump
and Congressional Republicans by and large are not calling for gun control per
se. They are talking about better screenings for mental illness, which has its
place, but this country effective solutions must curb gun violence like this
school massacre.
falsehoods of these old, tired arguments from the gun-control trigger-happy Left.
In fact, one of the happier outcomes from this disaster is that President Trump
and Congressional Republicans by and large are not calling for gun control per
se. They are talking about better screenings for mental illness, which has its
place, but this country effective solutions must curb gun violence like this
school massacre.
President Trump and Florida Governor Rick Scott are targeting
the FBI for failing to follow leads about the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, , a
menacing individual who was later expelled from the high school. Local law
enforcement was
called to his home a record 39 times. The FBI even received tips about him
as recently as January of this year. A simple data search would have revealed
multiple, justified reasons to worry. Governor
Scott’s demand for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign is not the right
step, yet; but Attorney General Sessions has to drain the swamp-infested
federal law enforcement community of partisan hacks. How about going after bad
guys instead of our President?
the FBI for failing to follow leads about the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, , a
menacing individual who was later expelled from the high school. Local law
enforcement was
called to his home a record 39 times. The FBI even received tips about him
as recently as January of this year. A simple data search would have revealed
multiple, justified reasons to worry. Governor
Scott’s demand for FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign is not the right
step, yet; but Attorney General Sessions has to drain the swamp-infested
federal law enforcement community of partisan hacks. How about going after bad
guys instead of our President?
It’s also worth noting that in spite of this tragedy, state
legislatures are introducing more pro-gun bills introduced into select
committees. Their determined resolve to respect the Second Amendment, a glowing
testimony to the media’s diminished power and the enhanced courage of the
voters and their representatives.
legislatures are introducing more pro-gun bills introduced into select
committees. Their determined resolve to respect the Second Amendment, a glowing
testimony to the media’s diminished power and the enhanced courage of the
voters and their representatives.
But still, what’s going on in Florida? What factors are
precipitating these murders? Two massacres in two years is too much, one would
think. I looked into the status on concealed carry in Florida. The state has a
pretty straightforward process. One source indicates that Florida initiated in
1987 the
first clearly-stated objective metrics for “shall issue”. A
record number of Floridians have also obtained concealed-carry licenses.
precipitating these murders? Two massacres in two years is too much, one would
think. I looked into the status on concealed carry in Florida. The state has a
pretty straightforward process. One source indicates that Florida initiated in
1987 the
first clearly-stated objective metrics for “shall issue”. A
record number of Floridians have also obtained concealed-carry licenses.
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I then reached out to pro-Second Amendment advocacy group “Florida Carry” on this matter. Executive
Director Sean Caranna fired back quickly (pun intended): “Open carry and almost
all permitless carry is a crime in Florida.
Even concealed licensees cannot enter schools or bars while armed.”
What?! Did you see “schools and bars”–where the last two Florida gun massacres
occurred. Permitless, aka constitutional carry, is expressly banned in Florida.
I have never heard of such legislation.
Director Sean Caranna fired back quickly (pun intended): “Open carry and almost
all permitless carry is a crime in Florida.
Even concealed licensees cannot enter schools or bars while armed.”
What?! Did you see “schools and bars”–where the last two Florida gun massacres
occurred. Permitless, aka constitutional carry, is expressly banned in Florida.
I have never heard of such legislation.
Eric J. Friday, the general counsel for Florida Carry, released
a damning open letter to the Florida State Legislature: “Laws punish
wrongdoing; they do not stop wrongdoers. Yet Florida continues to prohibit
licensed law-abiding citizens from possessing the tools to protect themselves
and their children from mass murder.” This lawyer did not mince words: lawmakers
do have blood on their hands, but not because they haven’t stopped the guns. Rather,
because they have frustrated the Florida citizenry from full exercise of their
God-given right to self-defense.
a damning open letter to the Florida State Legislature: “Laws punish
wrongdoing; they do not stop wrongdoers. Yet Florida continues to prohibit
licensed law-abiding citizens from possessing the tools to protect themselves
and their children from mass murder.” This lawyer did not mince words: lawmakers
do have blood on their hands, but not because they haven’t stopped the guns. Rather,
because they have frustrated the Florida citizenry from full exercise of their
God-given right to self-defense.
I would not go so far as to say that Florida’s elected officials
have blood on their hands, but these gun massacres will only continue until they
pass much-needed reforms:
have blood on their hands, but these gun massacres will only continue until they
pass much-needed reforms:
1.
Concealed-carry (CC) permits should have no
restrictions based on location. Imagine if a CC holder at the Pulse or on that
high school campus had carried a firearm? Nikolas Cruz would have been neutralized
on the spot.
Concealed-carry (CC) permits should have no
restrictions based on location. Imagine if a CC holder at the Pulse or on that
high school campus had carried a firearm? Nikolas Cruz would have been neutralized
on the spot.
2.
Some lawmakers want to incrementally increase the
number of permitted CC holders, like teachers in their classrooms. Sure, but this
option should be expanded to all law-abiding citizen.
Some lawmakers want to incrementally increase the
number of permitted CC holders, like teachers in their classrooms. Sure, but this
option should be expanded to all law-abiding citizen.
3.
“Gun-free zones” by statute are a dangerous myth.
It’s time to remove this naïve prohibition.
“Gun-free zones” by statute are a dangerous myth.
It’s time to remove this naïve prohibition.
4.
How about going for constitutional carry? Maine
and New Hampshire recently passed these reforms, and crime rates have
plummeted. Florida should at least repeal the ban.
How about going for constitutional carry? Maine
and New Hampshire recently passed these reforms, and crime rates have
plummeted. Florida should at least repeal the ban.
Congress has work to do, as well.
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5.
H.R. 38, Congressman Hudson’s national
reciprocity bill, passed on a bipartisan basis in the House last December. Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell needs to stop sitting on this bill. Red State
Democrats would either have to vote for this bill, or give their constituents another reason to throw them out. Liberal US Senator Angus King of Maine has even defended the
Second Amendment on national television, citing the lower crime rates in his
home state. Add to that tally the 51 Republicans, and McConnell has the voted
for cloture. Why not allowed for an open amendment process on H.R. 38, just
like on immigration? Now’s the time to move forward.
H.R. 38, Congressman Hudson’s national
reciprocity bill, passed on a bipartisan basis in the House last December. Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell needs to stop sitting on this bill. Red State
Democrats would either have to vote for this bill, or give their constituents another reason to throw them out. Liberal US Senator Angus King of Maine has even defended the
Second Amendment on national television, citing the lower crime rates in his
home state. Add to that tally the 51 Republicans, and McConnell has the voted
for cloture. Why not allowed for an open amendment process on H.R. 38, just
like on immigration? Now’s the time to move forward.
6.
How about legislation authorizing nationwide constitutional
carry? Critics will submit that this is stepping into states’ constitutional authority,
but the Second Amendment is a federal right recognized through the Fourteenth
Amendment. How about sanctuary jurisdictions for Second Amendment rights?
How about legislation authorizing nationwide constitutional
carry? Critics will submit that this is stepping into states’ constitutional authority,
but the Second Amendment is a federal right recognized through the Fourteenth
Amendment. How about sanctuary jurisdictions for Second Amendment rights?
At this point, all the talk about mental health, enhanced
background checks, or further restrictions on semi-automatic weapons is a waste
of time. Republicans need to stop paying lip-service to the Second Amendment. Our
leaders need to let citizens exercise this sacred right to the fullest.
background checks, or further restrictions on semi-automatic weapons is a waste
of time. Republicans need to stop paying lip-service to the Second Amendment. Our
leaders need to let citizens exercise this sacred right to the fullest.