We need  to urge our FL Senators to support SB-296. It is stuck in committee because the Florida Sheriffs Association and FL National Guard want to limit your rights. They need to pressure the Governor, the Florida Sheriffs Association, FL National Guard and Don Gaetz as well. This is in addition to the contacts provided below.

Marion Hammer is not happy with the Governor on this. "When Marion is not happy, ain’t nobody happy."

Wording from the Bill: 

"An act relating to carrying a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm; amending s. 790.01, F.S.; providing an exemption from criminal penalties for carrying a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm when complying with a mandatory evacuation order during a declared state of emergency."

READ THE ACTUAL BILL.. (Very Short)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/0296/BillText/c1/PDF

ACTION ITEM #1

CONTACT THE GOVERNOR AND ASK HIM TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE POSITION ON A BILL HE SAID HE SUPPORTED.

FLORIDA OFFICE OF GOVERNOR
Gov. Rick Scott, Phone (850) 488-7146
The Capitol, 400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Complete email form at http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/

ACTION ITEM #2

Contact each member of the following committee (Either via email or phone or both) Request that they act on SB-296 providing an exemption from criminal penalties for carrying a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm when complying with a mandatory evacuation order during a declared state of emergency

Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
Members
Chair:
Senator Thad Altman (R)

District Office
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S16
6767 North Wickham Road
Suite 211
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 752-3138
Tallahassee Office
314 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5016

Vice Chair:
Senator Audrey Gibson (D)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S9

District Office
101 E. Union Street
Suite 104
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 359-2553

Tallahassee Office
205 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5009

• Senator Joseph Abruzzo (D)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S25

District Office
12300 Forest Hill Boulevard
Suite 200
Wellington, FL 33414-5785
(561) 791-4774

Tallahassee Office
222 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5025

• Senator Dwight Bullard (D)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s39

District Office
10720 Caribbean Blvd.
Suite 435
Cutler Bay, FL 33189
(305) 234-2208

Tallahassee Office
218 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5039

• Senator Charles S. "Charlie" Dean, Sr. (R)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S5

District Office
405 Tompkins Street
Inverness, FL 34450
(352) 860-5175

Toll Free:
1-866-538-2831
315 SE 25th Avenue
Ocala, FL 34471-2689
(352) 873-6513

• Senator Greg Evers (R)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S2

District Office
209 E. Zaragoza Street
Pensacola, FL 32502-6048
(850) 595-0213

5234 Willing Street
Milton, FL 32570
(850) 564-1026

Tallahassee Office
308 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5002

• Senator Andy Gardiner (R)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S13
District Office
1013 East Michigan Street
Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 428-5800

Tallahassee Office
420 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5013

• Senator John Legg (R)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S17

District Office
262 Crystal Grove Blvd.
Lutz, FL 33548
(813) 909-9919

Tallahassee Office
316 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5017

• Senator Maria Lorts Sachs (D)
http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S34
District Office
Delray Beach City Hall
100 NW 1st Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33444
(561) 279-1427

Tallahassee Office
216 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5034

http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/

FLORIDA CARRY

Florida Sheriffs Association Opposes RIGHT to BEAR Arms
Thursday March 27th 2014, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) openly testified against Second Amendment rights to the Florida House Judiciary Committee saying, "In our opinion, there is a difference between owning a firearm and carrying one concealed on your person. Owing a firearm is a right; carrying it concealed is a privilege; and it is a privilege that is earned..."

Florida Sheriffs Association Fight Against Right to Bear Arms

In what can only be viewed as contempt and distrust for law-abiding gun owners, the Florida Sheriffs Association went on to say that during an emergency you are "least likely to use a firearm in a safe and responsible manner". Think about that. The Sheriffs are telling your legislature that when you are under attack by looters and rioters, you should be disarmed because you will be the irrational person in the situation.

The Sheriff's Association also told the committee that "there is plenty of time before hurricane season starts to go out and get a concealed weapons permit so you can carry on your person." This is completely false. Hurricane Season starts June 1st, only 62 days from now. Even if you already have your training certificate, your fingerprinting done, and have the $112.00 in fees ready to spend today, appointments at the regional offices are booked up to six months out and applications by mail are currently taking more than 90 days.

In other words, FSA is saying your Second Amendment right to BEAR arms can only be exercised if you have the time and money to get a license to carry a concealed handgun.

The Sheriffs go on to claim that "Given modern technology, the approach of storms can be predicted days in advance; and the last second flight scenarios are just not realistic." Anyone who has tracked approaching hurricanes knows this to be false.

A similar law to the one that we are trying to fix was struck down in North Carolina in 2012. The federal court there said:
"[T]he statutes here excessively intrude upon plaintiffs' Second Amendment rights by effectively banning them (and the public at large) from engaging in conduct that is at the very core of the Second Amendment at a time when the need for self-defense may be at its very greatest." Bateman v. Perdue, No. 5:10-CV-265-H, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47336, (E.D.N.C. Mar. 29, 2012)

In 1987 the Florida Sheriffs Association also opposed concealed carry, saying at the time that citizens should be forced to carry firearms openly so they would be able see who has guns. Once concealed carry passed, they turned around and pushed for the ban on open carry -- which was legal until 1987. In 2011 the FSA opposed a bill that would have restored the open carry of handguns.

The fact is that the Florida Sheriff's Association has opposed every right to bear arms bill that has ever been offered.

While the FSA may have some sympathy for people's the Right to Keep Arms at home, it is obvious that the group has disdain for the Right to Bear Arms for self-defense. At the same committee hearing, Assistant Adjutant General for the Florida Army National Guard Maj. General Don Tyre spoke in support of the bill that will allow law abiding Floridians to take their guns with them during a mandatory evacuation order without the need for a concealed carry license.

We call on you to contact your local Sheriff and ask if the Florida Sheriff's Association is representing their values. Is lobbying against the right to bear arms during an emergency how they are honoring the oath that your Sheriff swore to defend the constitution? Does your Sheriff really support the Right to Bear Arms?

It is time for Florida's Constitutional Sheriffs to take control of the FSA or quit supporting it with your tax dollars.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

 Message from Marion Hammer on the House Bill

ALERT !  Video of Florida Sheriffs Assn. Opposition to Right to Bear Arms

DATE:   March 29, 2014
TO:       USF & NRA Member and Friends
FROM:  Marion P. Hammer
            USF Executive Director
            NRA Past President

Below is a link to a youtube video of some of the Testimony before the Florida House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 17, 2014.   It shows the Florida Sheriffs Association OPEN OPPOSITION to your right to carry your firearms with you during a mandatory evacuation under a declared state of emergency. 

Further, despite words of the Founding Fathers in the Second Amendment, it is their opinion that you only have a "right" to own firearms and not a "right" to bear firearms.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qogTYo4mPuo

Under the video screen you will see heading that says,  "Published on Mar 28, 2014" and a short narrative. At the bottom of the narrative there is an option that says "Show more."  Be sure to click on that "Show more" option to read the rest of the narrative. 

The bill is HB-209 Firearms During Mandatory Evacuations by Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen and others.  Click Here to Read the Bill   The final vote on the bill by the House Judiciary Committee was 17-1.  Committee members, ALL 12 Republicans and 5 of 6 Democrats stood up for YOUR rights.

If you want to watch the complete House Judiciary Committee hearing on this bill, along with questions and debate by Legislators who are members of the committee,
go to this link and at the bottom of the screen in time bar, move to 1:40:00 to start the hearing on this bill.

http://thefloridachannel.org/videos/32714-house-judiciary-committee/

Two short articles:

 http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2014/mar/28/nra-marion-hammer-gov-ri...

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2014/3/florida-...!-carrying-a-firearm-during-emergency-evacuation.aspx

Again, thank you for your time and support as we work together to ensure that our 2nd amendment rights are not infringed upon.

God Bless You and May God Bless Our America

Leanne