ONE CALL AND ONE EMAIL

ALERT: Another Chairman Denies a Hearing -- to Pro-Self-Defense Bill
DATE: March 3, 2016
TO: USF & NRA Members and Friends
FROM: Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President

The self-serving conduct of a House committee chairman is threatening to undermine our self-defense rights.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles McBurney (R-Jacksonville) seems to be taking lessons from Senate Judiciary Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla. Both are now refusing to hear progun, pro-self-defense bills in their Committees and are denying Committee members the opportunity to vote.

McBurney is refusing to hold a hearing on the "Burden of Proof" bill, SB-344, which restores the presumption of innocence in self-defense cases.

It has been reported that McBurney, a former prosecutor who is now term-limited out of the House, wants to become a judge.

To do that, he needs the help of prosecutors. SB-344 is opposed by anti-gun prosecutors.

If McBurney runs for an elected judgeship, he'll need prosecutors to help raise campaign funds for him. If he seeks an appointed judgeship, he'll need those same prosecutors to send favorable recommendations to the Governor on his behalf.

Chairman McBurney is putting his self-interest above your self-defense rights and your right to the presumption of innocence. By refusing to give this bill a hearing, he is ignoring the basic doctrine that a person charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty.

In addition, the Speaker of the House asked McBurney specifically to hear this bill and authorized him to hold a special committee hearing in the eighth week of Session for that purpose. Despite that, McBurney is refusing to give a fair hearing to the bill.

McBurney and the House Majority Leader, Dana Young, have even claimed that some House members are complaining that they need to be "protected," and asking that they not be forced to vote on this bill. However, NO HOUSE MEMBER has come to us to express concern about the bill.

It's time to let Chairman McBurney know that protecting the constitutional rights of the people should come before his personal desire to become a judge. Legislators should do the job they were elected to do, namely protecting the fundamental self-defense rights of the people.

Email Charles McBurney TODAY. Tell him how you feel.

In the subject line put: PLEASE GIVE SB-344 A FAIR HEARING

charles.mcburney@myfloridahouse.gov

Call McBurney's office at: (850) 717-5016

PLEASE DO IT TODAY -- Time is short !!!

SB344

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/0344

SUMMARY:

Justifiable Use or Threatened Use of Defensive Force; Specifying that once a prima facie claim of self-defense immunity has been raised, the burden of proof shall be on the party seeking to overcome the immunity from criminal prosecution; entitling criminal defendants who successfully claim immunity to an award of specified costs, attorney fees, and related expenses if a court makes specified determinations; requiring reimbursements to be paid from the operating trust fund of the state attorney who prosecuted the defendant, etc.

“Without the right to defend yourself--

and the right to possess the means to do it--

all other supposed rights are so much hot air.”
― James Carlos Blake