Posted on 05/07/2012 9:12:36 AM PDT by bkopto
Don’t come messing around the Republican National Convention with an “air rifle, air pistol, paintball rifle, explosive blasting cap, switchblade, hatchet, ax, slingshot, blackjack, metal knuckles, nunchakus, mace, iron buckle, ax handle, chain, crowbar, hammer, shovel or any club or bludgeon.”
All this along with “any other instrumentality used or intended to be used to cause physical or personal damage.”
Except, of course, for the most obvious instrument intended to cause physical or personal damage.
The city didn’t prohibit guns. It can’t.
Gov. Rick Scott, who could, won’t. He rejected a request from Mayor Bob Buckhorn asking for an “executive order prohibiting the transportation of firearms in Downtown Tampa.”
Scott’s answered arrived Wednesday. “Like you,” the governor stated, “I share the concern that ‘violent anti-government protests or other civil unrest’ can post ‘dangers’ and the ‘threat of substantial injury or harm to Florida residents and visitors to the state.’ But it is unclear how disarming law abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law.”
Of course, Buckhorn and the Tampa City Council weren’t worried so much about nice, local, law-abiding retirees packing heat when some 15,000 wild-eyed zealots with so many warring opinions invade Tampa. Buckhorn’s letter to Scott noted that the city has passed a temporary ordinance that “regulates certain items that are usually benign in nature, but have been historically used as dangerous weapons” at certain national events. “One noticeable item missing from the City’s temporary ordinance is firearms.”
The city can keep paint guns, switchblades, even sticks away from the convention site. But legislation passed in 2011 — at the behest of the NRA — forbids local governments from passing even temporary firearm regulations that exceed the state’s tepid gun laws. The statute includes hefty penalties for government officials who try. If the Tampa City Council were to attempt to include guns on its list of temporarily banned items, the city could be hit with a $500,000 penalty and the mayor and council members fined $5,000 fined each and removed from office.
The governor, however, has certain executive powers that, in special circumstances, allow him to “suspend or limit the sale, dispensing or transportation of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives and combustibles.” Scott would have none of it. And gun rights, in Florida, still trump local concerns. Cities and counties can’t ban firearms in parks, government buildings or airport terminals. Or in the protest zone outside the Tampa Bay Times Forum convention center.
“We look silly in the eyes of the world,” Mayor Buckhorn told reporters last week. “The absurdity of us being able to ban squirt guns but being prohibited from banning guns is just ridiculous.”
Buckhorn should be careful. The gun lobby is forever looking for new and novel ways to demonstrate its formidable political power. Imagine the new bumper sticker: “When they outlaw the Super Soaker Hydro Cannon, only outlaws will have Super Soakers.”
Absurd? The idiot Dem protesters will need to think twice before intimidating convention goers.
>>Scott’s answered arrived Wednesday. “Like you,” the governor stated, “I share the concern that ‘violent anti-government protests or other civil unrest’ can post ‘dangers’ and the ‘threat of substantial injury or harm to Florida residents and visitors to the state.’ But it is unclear how disarming law abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law.”
Make fun of “Floriduh” all you want, but we elected a governor who actually gets it!
typical...
The “Grimm truth”, to borrow a phrase from the Miami Herald, is that Florida has decided to wrap itself in the Second Amendment.
Poor ickle commies like Fred are hyperventilating in unison.
;-)
You can be sure that Gov. Scott will be around Tampa during the RNC. He feels safe amongst us law-abiding citizens too.
Nothing but the real deal here! Pale imitators need not apply.
All squirt gunners will be shot!
The title of this article is an outright lie. Here in Florida we have a concealed weapons permit, not a concealed gun permit. You are free to carry a sword if you want, as long as it’s concealed. The idiots don’t have to worry about the citizens who have gone through the process to get a CWP, worry about the other idiots who will be there to cause trouble.
Bring on the race riot nignogs. We are ready.
Thanks for the update.
What about battle rifles with a bayonet?
Since when is the 2nd Amendment just for those things that go bang?
I never have understood the myopic focus on firearms to the exclusion of all other arms.
An acquaintance showed me a copy of Gov Scott’s entire letter over the weekend. It was great. He pointed out that the difference between sticks, bludgeons and the link, on the one hand, and firearms is that that sticks etc are “notably” missing from the second amendment.
I too missed the term “gun” in the second amendment. I thought it said “arms” which can include everything they banned.
Firearms are “notably” missing from the second amendment. I guess I don’t see your point.
If I’m not mistaken they’re using a little sleight-of-hand by referring to “the downtown area” and “convention cite” as if they’re identical phrases.
Rick Scott, you're my hero!
Grimm--what a dumbass. Does this fool not know that CRIMINALS don't obey "no guns" signs? M
These commie-liberals will be the first ones brain-shot against the wall when they get the kind of government they want. Idiots.
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