Hindsight from The New Gun Week February 20, 2000
Florida Lawmakers Target Guns And Elephants at Circuses
by Joseph P. Tartaro,
Executive Editor
Social activism at the expense of the general citizenry seems to have a broad scope among lawmakers in Florida these days.Not content with the 1994 federal Crime Bill's ban on the sale and possession of hundreds of semi-automatic firearms defined as "assault weapons," a cadre of anti-gunners in the Florida state legislature wants to abolish possession of even those guns grandfathered by the federal law-plus a whole lot more. In the process, they are aided and abetted by Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne and several members of that county's delegation in Tallahassee.
Not only do they want the long guns, but the proposal they are backing would make most handguns illegal unless they can pass an almost impossible-to-conduct test, have locks or are equipped with owner-recognition technology.
AnalysisPro-gun attorney Jon H. Gutmacher and Steven J. Greenwald, president of the Miami-based Citizens Against Gun Control (CAGC) have prepared an analysis of HB-363.
They say that if HB-363 becomes law, all handguns would be illegal-even black powder pistols and revolvers. Virtually all good semi-auto rifles also would be illegal, as well as many shotguns. There is no provision for "grandfathering" any firearms owned before the law takes effect, as was the case with the 1994 federal "assault weapon" ban.
Anti-gun activists in Broward County cannot enact local ordinances unilaterally. They need concurrence by the state legislature. And the way for them to tie the whole package together is to pass HB-363, a measure in the state legislature.
The cost to the state could exceed $160 million, because gunowners who comply with the law and surrender their firearms should be entitled to "just compensation" under the federal Constitution. The guns in private possession, which would be banned by the proposal, would have to be removed from the state, rendered inoperable, or surrendered to police.
The definition of an "unsafe handgun" will make it virtually impossible to comply with. The drop test requires all handguns to have their safety devices disconnected. This would be a major gunsmithing operation, and would substantially change the configuration and mechanics of the firearm, such that any so-called "drop test" would have nothing to do with the normal ability of the firearm. Non-current firearms would not be tested by manufacturers, leaving every individual gunowner potentially liable to substantial felony charges if their gun did not meet the test.
The Bill outlaws many popular sporting rifles. SKS and Macs would be history. Amazingly the "thumbhole stock," which is considered a "sporting stock" under federal law, would make a gun an "assault weapon" in Florida.
HB-363 would ban so-called unsafe handguns, which are defined as follows:
A.) A handgun which in the cocked and ready position fires when dropped from 3 feet onto a steel plate with all safety devices deactivated.
B.) Any handgun without a child-resistant trigger mechanism designed to prevent a child under 5 from operating the weapon when ready to fire. Such mechanism to include a 10-pound trigger pull or a design which prevents a child of 5 from gripping the trigger.
C.) Any semi-auto pistol which can be fired when the magazine is removed.
D.) A handgun sold without a mechanism designed to prevent discharge by unauthorized users including: 1. detachable trigger lock (key or combination); 2. magnetic (electronic ring) and, 3. A removable hammer or striker.
The people of Broward County are not ignoring the threat to their rights. According to a report from Charles W. Parrott III, a Gun Week reader and long-time South Florida pro-gun activist, more than 500 freedom-loving Americans packed the Hollywood, FL, Commission Chambers on the afternoon and evening of Feb. 1 at a public hearing on the proposed Broward County "Assault Weapon" ban.
"Held before the 18 members of the Broward County legislative delegation in the Florida state legislature, a total of 111 persons had signed up to speak (76 against and 35 for the ordinance). All of the speakers against this unconstitutional travesty made excellent presentations.
"It was most noteworthy to observe quite a few of the delegation members chatting, eating and drinking (the citizens who came to be heard weren't allowed this luxury), while the majority of those who came to speak against this proposed ordinance had to stand around outside. As usual, they put the "assault weapon" ban as the very last item on the agenda.
"I was number 20 to speak against the ordinance, but didn't get the opportunity to finish my short presentation," Parrott said. "These people do not even respect our First Amendment rights! How this happened is very interesting, so I'll describe what happened.
"I had prepared a presentation that would use the five minutes they gave us to speak, but I only got about a minute-and-a half finished before there was trouble.
"This is what happened: I had made about 30 copies of my presentation, not knowing how many would be on the Legislative Delegation, and put a copy (one sheet, front and back) in all of the Jews For the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) booklets that I had left, titled 'Gun Control is Racist!'
"When called to the podium, I told Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz that I had some material I would like to leave for the delegation, and she told me to give it to a lady who walked up to the podium and passed it out to the delegation members.
"When I was about one-and-a-half minutes into my presentation, Rep. Josephus Eggelletion (a black Democrat from District 94) burst out in a loud voice, saying, 'I'm outraged over this racist booklet you've given out! I've never seen such racist material...' or words to that effect.
"This little booklet is 100% accurate and describes how the most racist laws we have in America are gun control laws. After Eggelletion finished his tirade, I tried to finish my presentation, but was told '...you're out of time' by Wasserman-Schultz.
"But before I sat down, I made one final remark, 'I want to ask you one question-exactly what do you find so offensive about the truth!' "
Parrott can be reached through the South Florida Firearms Owners, PO Box 52-2544, Miami, FL 33152. The SFFO phone (305-460-2261) has 24-hour service.
You can also find copies of the Broward County proposed ordinance and HB-363 on-line at www.smartcarry.com
Elephant Ban
The social activism of legislators isn't confined to firearms, as I mentioned at the beginning of this column. It seems whenever something happens these days, there are people who are ready to move in and ban something or another.If you think the anti-gunners are a little strange, take a peek at this item.
The death of a Florida elephant trainer and the subsequent killing of the elephant responsible have prompted two state lawmakers to file bills on Feb. 8 to ban the animals from most traveling circuses, according to Reuters news service.
Citing repeated incidents of abuse and the deaths of six people from elephant stompings since 1989, Rep. Curt Levine (D-Boca Raton), called on fellow lawmakers to ban elephant rides at circuses or traveling shows and prohibit the confinement of elephants for more than 36 hours at a time.
The latest death occurred Jan. 26 when an 18-year-old, 4,500-pound female African elephant named Kenya killed Teresa Ramos-Caballero, 52, at the Ramos family's compound in a rural area near Tampa. On Feb. 5, Kenya was found dead of undetermined causes.
The measure also would prohibit the participation of elephants younger than 7 years of age in circus performances and would ban the importation of elephants into Florida unless they spend 300 days a year within the state.
Sen. Daryl Jones (D-Miami) filed a companion bill in the state Senate.
The New Gun Week is published three times a month by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) on the 1st, 10th, and 20th. Hindsight is a commentary written by SAF President and Gun Week Executive Editor Joseph P. Tartaro. This commentary may be reprinted so long as credit is given to the author and the publication. For more information or to subscribe, write Gun Week, PO Box 488, Buffalo, NY 14209, or call 716-885-6408 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, or inquire on Compuserve to John Krull, Production manager-JohnSAF@Compuserve.com or gunweeksaf@broadviewnet.netAlso, check out the New Gun Week at http://www.GunWeek.com