Posted on 07/25/2018 9:24:16 AM PDT by Vlad The Inhaler
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam's agency told lawmakers in September that the record surge in requests for concealed weapons permits was one of his agency's "chief ongoing concerns."
Equipment used to process weapons permits and other licenses was "redundant," inefficient and outdated, leading to higher costs and "greater operational risk."
A $13.3 million fix was needed to meet demand, his agency said in a 2017 budget request.
That blunt assessment, previously unreported, conflicts with how Putnam has characterized the concealed weapons program amid reports his department mishandled applications for licenses.
When the Tampa Bay Times first reported last month that the office failed to review results from a national background check for concealed weapons, Putnam blamed one employee, calling her "negligent and deceptive." The oversight led to the revocation of 291 permits that were issued in error between 2016 and 2017.
The Times reported earlier this month that audio recordings and summaries of interviews investigators conducted with eight current and former employees in the permitting division revealed broader issues. Employees felt "overwhelmed." Those involved in the process said they didn't fully understand what they were doing.
Again, Putnam's office asserted the issues had been "proactively" addressed.
When the Times reported that a former supervisor in permitting sued the agency in 2012, claiming "gross misconduct" in the handling of permits, Putnam's office dismissed the allegations as those from a disgruntled former employee, which were settled when the agency paid the employee $30,000 in 2016.
When the Associated Press reported this month about a 2012 internal investigation that found 48 employees made mistakes while issuing permits for concealed weapons, security guards and other licenses, Putnam's agency said the problem was handled and the employees were held accountable.
In a Tuesday statement, Putnam spokeswoman Jenn Meale said that, "to correlate the need for technological enhancements with employees' negligence is misleading and wrong."
"Outdated technology is never an excuse for employees failing to fulfill job duties," Meale said.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the state's auditor general has been reviewing the concealed weapons program.
Since taking office in 2011, Putnam has portrayed the concealed weapons program that he oversees as an efficient, consumer-friendly operation that has cuts down on wait times. Now a Republican candidate for governor, Putnam touts the program as one of his top accomplishments.
"A marriage of efficiency and Second Amendment rights," he said last year. "Faster, cheaper, better, just like you would expect in the private sector."
But during this same period, according to budget requests, Putnam's department has said otherwise: The system for processing permits was reaching the end of its life and that could lead to problems.
Since 2014, lawmakers have appropriated $30 million to overhaul the system. The Department of Agriculture oversees 144 different licenses, registrations and permits, including for private investigators, security guards and grocery stores. The new system will handle these various duties.
But, as the budget request noted, the technical issues are "more evident" in the licensing division. Of the state's 2.1 million licenses, 1.9 million are for concealed weapons.
The existing licensing system stopped being supported on Dec. 31, 2015 — which typically means the vendor was no longer servicing the product or providing security upgrades. In the years since, Florida has experienced the largest expansion of concealed carry permits in state history. It now leads the country in concealed weapon permit holders.
In 2017, more than 16,000 concealed weapons permit holders in Florida may have had their names accidentally made public because of a data breach in the department. Putnam's office notified 469 other customers that their Social Security numbers may have been hacked as part of the breach.
Meale said the hack was unrelated to the technological issues.
Despite the problems outlined in budget requests, Putnam has pushed initiatives that make it easier to get a permit, like making applications available at county tax collector offices.
He continued to promote enrollment even as his department warned lawmakers in 2015, 2016 and 2017 that "no enhancement upgrades are available for the division's current system to accommodate the projected future growth" in concealed weapons permits.
Last year, Putnam promised expedited licenses for military members, worked with lawmakers to lower permit fees for the third time and began offering same-day renewal of licenses.
Putnam's office has told lawmakers in budget requests that a new system will allow considerable cost savings because it would "automate" regulation.
But a June status report to the Legislature declared that several years in, the overall health of the project is "declining" and behind schedule. It is likely to cost more than anticipated. Employees surveyed have grown increasingly disenchanted with its prospects.
Evan easier for Vets, experienced shooters, LEO, etc.
License is good for 7 years then must be renewed.
https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Consumer-Resources/Concealed-Weapon-License
How many thugs, illegals, criminals have guns? How many have permits?
Eff the state!
Why would concealed carry permits go through the Agriculture agency?
I live in Florida. Why is Agriculture in charge of CCW? Seems a strange department to handle this, but I know why it’s not the DMV. I returned an old license plate and it took 45 minutes - there were only three other “customers” before me...
TBT is waging war on Putnam.
Constitutional carry states don’t have these problems or the expenses that come with them.
That should be the Second Amendment.
FTA: “Outdated technology is never an excuse for employees failing to fulfill job duties,” Meale said.
Dr. W. Edwards Deming would beg to disagree: “I should estimate that in my experience most troubles and most possibilities for improvement add up to the proportions something like this: 94% belongs to the system responsibility of management, 6% special” “A bad system will beat a good person every time.”
All “constitutional carry” States except for Vermont still issue permits, for the protection of their citizens when travelling in less enlightened States.
President Trump is coming to Tampa on July 31 for a Ron DeSantis rally.
Trump has an approval rating in the high 80’s with Republican voters in Florida.
When the Republicans vote in the August 28th Primary Election it will be bye-bye for GOP Establishment Candidate Adam Putnam.
The only thing worse than Career Politicians like Adam Putnam are Career Employees in the DOJ and FBI.
When/if Mr. Putnam, you become governor… to settle this issue, do Constitutional carry. I’m concerned CCW permits are a form of registration… and CCW holders would be first victims of the Socialist gun confiscations.
Rather than a CCW permit, states who defend the 2nd Amendment should place on all citizens’ driver licenses or official ID… a box: [“eligible for CCW - Y/N”]. A “Y” would indicate they are eligible to carry, not that they do so (they may chose not to)… it just indicates there’s nothing on their record to prohibit them from CCW. An “N” means they are not eligible, due a criminal conviction or other reason. The gun-grabbers would have a much larger universe of people they could hassle!
Here’s a thought: Constitutional carry. No permits. No “overwhelmed” permit process.
Putnam is big sugar’s boy,
Him and Rubio.
Big agg is killing the Saint Lucie and Caloosahatcie estuaries.
I think I read long ago that it was done that way to keep the politicians, such as elected police chiefs, out of the process.
solution...stop trying to issue these unconstitutional ‘permits’ or infringements on American citizens’ RIGHTs to keep AND BEAR arms
assign staff to some useful, constitutionally legal work instead
refund the fees already collected, extracted from the innocent citizens for these useless, anti-American ‘permits’
problem solved.
In 2002 responsibility for concealed carry permits was moved from the Florida Department of State to the Agriculture Department.
The stated reason was to place responsibility for the program in the hands of an elected official, someone directly answerable to voters, instead of an appointed bureaucrat.
Supposedly the NRA had some issues with the way the Sate Department was running the program.
The State Police handle them in Virginia.
“”””Why would concealed carry permits go through the Agriculture agency?””””
The Agriculture Commissioner also handles weights and measures regulations. So their stamp is on all of the gasoline pumps.
FL routinely requires applicants to submit finger print cards 3 or 4 times because their system can’t handle the load.
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