3/30/2004
Tallahassee's gun nuts
It's time for another editorial roundup. This session the NRA, herds the Legislative sheep into passing two spectacularly dumb bills. One would prevent police from keeping lists of guns sold at pawn shops. (They do this to track stolen firearms. Duh.) Keeping such lists would become a criminal offense for which police could be fined. The other would make it a crime for environmental agencies to sue gun ranges that pollute land and waterways with lead.
+ Palm Beach Post -- NRA calls the shots. The truth is, lawmakers are more afraid of the NRA than they are of taxpayers or even the police.
+ The Ledger -- Being Prudent About Guns. Lawmakers have been cowed by the National Rifle Association into doing almost anything the gun lobby demands.
+ Fort Pierce Tribune -- NRA bill harmful to law efforts. Probably the most egregious of the nearly 60 open government exemptions proposed so far during the current Florida legislative session is one that would prevent law enforcement agencies and private individuals from keeping a record of firearm owners after 60 days.
+ Florida Today -- Protect the public. Governor must reject the proposal to keep gun ownership secret
+ Miami Herald -- Senate should stop the bad gun bills. Instead of helping fight crime or keeping Floridians safe, these bills only protect the gun industry and those who illegally use guns.
+ Stuart News -- Kill NRA's bill. Probably the most egregious of the nearly 60 open government exemptions proposed so far during the current Florida legislative session is one that would prevent law enforcement agencies and private individuals from keeping a record of firearm owners after 60 days.
+ Sun-Sentinel -- Gun Range Law A Disaster The two bills may be a boon for gun ranges and a gift to the National Rifle Association, which is supporting the legislation, but they're a disaster for those government agencies that are responsible for preventing lead and arsenic contamination. For starters, if the legislation is enacted, enforcing state environmental laws at gun ranges will become a crime.
+Sarasota Herald-Tribune -- Handcuffing the police. It may be too much to ask that legislators put law officers above the NRA. But the NRA's paranoia isn't sufficient reason to make police work harder.
+ Palm Beach Post -- NRA calls the shots. The truth is, lawmakers are more afraid of the NRA than they are of taxpayers or even the police.
+ The Ledger -- Being Prudent About Guns. Lawmakers have been cowed by the National Rifle Association into doing almost anything the gun lobby demands.
+ Fort Pierce Tribune -- NRA bill harmful to law efforts. Probably the most egregious of the nearly 60 open government exemptions proposed so far during the current Florida legislative session is one that would prevent law enforcement agencies and private individuals from keeping a record of firearm owners after 60 days.
+ Florida Today -- Protect the public. Governor must reject the proposal to keep gun ownership secret
+ Miami Herald -- Senate should stop the bad gun bills. Instead of helping fight crime or keeping Floridians safe, these bills only protect the gun industry and those who illegally use guns.
+ Stuart News -- Kill NRA's bill. Probably the most egregious of the nearly 60 open government exemptions proposed so far during the current Florida legislative session is one that would prevent law enforcement agencies and private individuals from keeping a record of firearm owners after 60 days.
+ Sun-Sentinel -- Gun Range Law A Disaster The two bills may be a boon for gun ranges and a gift to the National Rifle Association, which is supporting the legislation, but they're a disaster for those government agencies that are responsible for preventing lead and arsenic contamination. For starters, if the legislation is enacted, enforcing state environmental laws at gun ranges will become a crime.
+Sarasota Herald-Tribune -- Handcuffing the police. It may be too much to ask that legislators put law officers above the NRA. But the NRA's paranoia isn't sufficient reason to make police work harder.
