ACTION ITEM #1

HELP NEEDED -- SB-448 -- Threat of Force to Stop Attackers
DATE: January 2, 2014

SB-448 By Sen. Greg Evers is on the agenda for the Senate Criminal Justice Committee Meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 9:00am.

We need you to contact members of this Committee IMMEDIATELY.

SB-448 by Senator Greg Evers is a bill to stop abusive prosecutors from using 10-20-LIFE to prosecute people who, in self-defense, threaten to use deadly force against an attacker as a means to stop an attack.

Some anti-gun, anti-self-defense prosecutors have been abusing the 10-20-LIFE law to prosecute average citizens who displayed a weapon or gun in self-defense to make an attacker back off.

Average citizens who never would have been in the system if they had not been attacked and in fear for their own safety, are being persecuted and prosecuted for defending themselves.

Because citizens took responsibility for their own safety, some prosecutors treat them like criminals and make them victims of a judicial system.

10-20-Life was passed to stop prosecutors and judges from slapping gun-wielding criminals on the wrist so they could quickly clear cases.

The 10-20-Life law was never intended to be used against citizens who, in an act of self-defense, threatened the use of force to stop an attacker, including the unwise use of a warning shot. Yet, that's what some prosecutors are doing. They are willfully and knowingly violating the intent of the law.

Please EMAIL Committee members and tell them to SUPPORT SB-448

IN THE SUBJECT LINE PUT: SUPPORT SB-448 Threat of Force

(To send your message to all just Block and Copy All email addresses into the "Send To" box)

evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov,
smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov,
altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov,
bradley.rob.web@flsenate.gov,
dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov,
gibson.audrey.web@flsenate.gov,
simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov

BACKGROUND  INFORMATION:

Read this Op Ed that was written for the SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL

The 10-20-Life law is being misused - Sun Sentinel

It's Not About Warning Shots -- The 10-20-Life law is being misused

By Marion P. Hammer December 7, 2013

Nothing in SB-448 and HB-89, the House Companion, allows warning shots nor do they promote or encourage warning shots.

Warning shots are not safe. Nonetheless, when people are in fear for their lives or the lives of loved ones, they might fire a warning shot rather than shoot someone. People make mistakes and do irrational things when in fear of death or injury. That doesn't mean they should go to prison for 20 years when there was no injury or harm done.

Warning shots are an unsafe result of the glorification of such conduct in movies and on TV. No one is recommending warning shots.

Nonetheless, a father should not be prosecuted under 10-20-Life for firing a warning shot. No harm was done yet a father was sent to prison for 20 years for firing a warning shot to stop an attacker from harming his daughter.

A mother should not be charged under 10-20-Life for firing a warning shot to stop an attack by an abusive ex-husband. It caused no injury and no harm yet she was prosecuted and sent to prison for 20 years. These are not isolated cases.

The simple truth is the intent of the 10-20-Life law is being violated. The law was intended to be used to lock up criminals who use guns during the commission or attempted commission of crimes.

It was intended to stop prosecutors and judges from slapping gun-toting criminals on the wrist so they could quickly clear cases.

The 10-20-Life law was never intended to be used against citizens who, in an act of self-defense, threatened the use of force to stop an attacker, including the unwise use of a warning shot. Yet, that's what some prosecutors are doing. They are willfully and knowingly violating the intent of the law.

The cold hard reality is that some prosecutors are treating law-abiding people like criminals. People who never would have been in the system had they not been attacked and in fear for their own safety are being prosecuted. Self-defense is not a crime, it is a right and prosecutors are trampling those rights.

The threat of force in self-defense should have the same protection as actually shooting someone in self-defense. You should not be required to shoot an attacker to have the protection of the law.

The issue is not warning shots, it's about protecting people from the abuse of prosecutorial discretion.

Marion P. Hammer is a past president of the National Rifle Association and executive director of Unified Sportsmen of Florida.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-viewpoint-warning-shot-...

The 10-20-LIFE Law is a Minimum Mandatory law that mandates specific penalties for criminals who use guns to commit crimes:

10 years in prison for pulling a gun during the commission of a crime.

20 years in prison for shooting a gun during the commission of a crime.

25 years to Life in prison if you shoot someone during the commission of a crime.

For more information on 10-20-Life go here:

10-20-Life - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ACTION ITEM #2

Dear Common Core Fighters,
Do hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

While you haven't been asked to communicate on Common Core in a while, please know that the team has been working behind the scenes talking to Senators and Representatives and doing research over the last month.

Many of you have already called your legislators and members of the Education Committees but next week both Houses will be in committee:
The Senate Education Committee will be having hearings on whether to propose a delay in implementation of Common Core during Committee weeks of January 6 or 13. It is imperative that you make your calls. If at all possible please call the following people and tell them you want them to Sponsor or Co-Sponsor a bill to Pause Common Core in the state of Florida. I know it is a long list. Call all of them you can, but if not please focus on the Senators.

Legislator Party District Dist Ofc Phone Tally Phone

Senator David Simmons  R 10    (407) 262-7578      (850) 487-5010
Senator Kelli Stargel  R 15         (863) 284-4430      (850) 487-5015
Senator Jeff Brandes  R 22         (727) 552-2745      (850) 487-5022
Senator Dwight Bullard  D 39     (305) 234-2208      (850) 487-5039
Senator Bill Montford  D 3          (850) 487-5003      (850) 487-5003
Rep. Janet Adkins  R 11             (904) 491-3664      (850) 717-5011
Rep. Reggie Fullwood  D 13      (904) 353-2180      (850) 717-5013
Rep. Charles McBurney  R 16    (904) 359-6090      (850) 717-5016
Rep. Marlene O' Toole  R 33     (352) 315-4445      (850) 717-5033
Rep. Keith Perry  R 21               (352) 313-6544      (850) 717-5021
Rep. Karen Castor Dental  D 30 (407) 659-4818      (850) 717-5030
Rep. Erik Frensen  R 114           (305) 663-2011      (850) 717-5030
Rep. Mia Jones  D 14                (904) 924-1615      (850) 717-5114
Rep. Mike Clelland  D 29           (407) 262-7423      (850) 717-5029

*The Common Core information was provided by: Northeast Florida Parents Against Common Core)
*The SB448 information was provided by:
Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President

God Bless You and May God Bless Our America!
Leanne