Tampa officials still angling for RNC gun ban

[jpak]

http://www2.tbo.com/news/politics/2012/apr/22/memeto3-tampa-officials-still-angling-for-rnc-gun--ar-395188/

Frustrated that state law will not let them regulate handguns during the Republican National Convention, city officials are considering a direct appeal to Gov. Rick Scott.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn plans to write to the governor, arguing that Scott could suspend the pre-emption section of the state's gun laws using powers granted him by Florida's emergency management laws.

Specifically, the governor has the power to "suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of" guns along with alcohol and explosives during emergencies.

The federal government has labeled the convention a "National Special Security Event" as a way of granting its staff special powers. City officials now are asking the governor to consider invoking his own special powers.

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[hlthe2b]

1. hoisted on their own NRA-schmoozing petard, it seems

and RETHUGs don't trust their own RETHUG gun-toters? (or have they finally realized how badly their unhinged tea-bagger Frankenstein monster has turned out for them )

[iverglas]

36. Actually, the mayor is a Democrat ;)

http://articles.boston.com/2012-05-03/politics/31532417_1_ban-firearms-government-bans-safe-zone

Florida governor refuses to ban concealed weapons throughout Tampa during Republican convention
May 03, 2012|By Callum Borchers

Florida Governor Rick Scott will not ban concealed firearms in downtown Tampa during the Republican National Convention this August, despite a request from the city that he do so.

Scott, a Republican, said in a letter to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, a Democrat, that a preexisting ban on weapons in and around the convention arena is sufficient and that a further restriction would violate the US and state constitutions.

... The Tampa City Council voted last week to have Buckhorn request an executive order from Scott. A recently passed state law stripped Florida municipalities of the right to enact local gun laws.

Presumably a majority of city council are too.


- edit - just because a lot of people in the thread seem to have worked hard to miss the point here:

The concern, one would imagine, is for the safety of anti-Republican demonstrators and protesters in the vicinity of the convention, and for the general public - not the safety of Republicans and only Republicans. Anti-repubican demonstrators and protestors are really just not likely to be the ones carrying guns.

[Kolesar]

2. Uh, sorry, we don't have a "Mister Zimmerman" on the guest list

Good luck managing this one, Governor Scott

[AH1Apache]

3. FL has a state pre-emption law

which means only the state can set gun laws.
So if Tampa were to get their way, I guess the criminals would say, oh damn, Tampa says we have to leave our guns at home, whatever are we going to do? Because we all know that criminals obey gun laws, right?

[shadowrider]

4. Great. Scott can suspend or limit...during emergencies

This is NOT an emergency. To invoke this would be far overstepping his bounds. He is limited by STATE LAW.

[Kolesar]

6. There is your trademark perverted catch phrase again

"target rich environments"

[AH1Apache]

7. And your point is?

It's his opinion, like many of us here believe, so what.

[jpak]

8. In my opinion, NRA conventions are "douchebag rich" environments

Last edited Sun Apr 22, 2012, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Why anyone would consider a school filled with kids "target rich environment" is beyond me.

yup

[shadowrider]

10. Gun free zones, NOT limited to schools. But since you brought it up, what's the body count at VT?

Columbine?

Why anyone would consider a school filled with kids "target rich environment" is beyond me.

(This comment to that comment self edited before the post is hidden by jury).

[jpak]

14. Lax gun laws allowed the shooters to get their guns and ammo

yup

[shadowrider]

16. You didn't answer the question. What was the body count at VT and Columbine?

Where these students were in gun free zones and thus protected.

Body count?

[AH1Apache]

19. He won't give you a coherent answer because it doesn't fit his agenda.

Yup.

[AH1Apache]

17. More of the same ole same ole from jpak

just throw shit out there and see what sticks.

[AH1Apache]

11. Pretty much everything is beyond you Hoyt, whoops, I mean jpak.

So what would you call a gun free zone? Oh, that's right, I forgot, when criminals and mass murderers see the no firearms signs, they say, oh shit, what do we do now, the sign says no guns, well, I guess I'll go look for a place that does allow the carrying of guns.

[Kolesar]

13. I spent yesterday in Chardon

There are yard signs mourning the loss of the murdered children. Sales clerks wear commemorative buttons and the restaurant we ate at had a collection for Nick Walczak, who is now a quadriplegic.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/240904/15/Chardon-shooting-survivor-Nick-Walczak-goes-home

[AH1Apache]

15. And this has what to do with Tampa attempting to circumvent state law?

Tugging at the heart strings I see.

[rl6214]

39. Yet you want your republican friend the gov to ban guns from their convention

why is that? Why do you care?

[AH1Apache]

5. Oh noooooooooooos, the backlash cometh.

[ileus]

9. Why....why not try trusting people.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Who gives a f*ck?

It's Florida. It's a GOP convention. It's another world.

Let 'em arm themselves until they're to heavy to get out of their own way.

[ileus]

18. Exactly it's the GOP convention....hardly anyone there worth caring about

If they had a lights out 30 minute shootout is anyone going to die that matters?

It would probably be the first time in history R's actually helped curb global warming if that were to happen.

[AH1Apache]

20. Well said.

[iverglas]

37. sadly, your fan is no longer with us

But here's an intelligent reply to your post.

Exactly it's the GOP convention....hardly anyone there worth caring about

So ... do you actually not care about the many demonstrators and protestors who will without a doubt be present in the vicinity of the convention ... or were you just spouting what you thought would sound like the party line?

The safety of progressive people taking the opportunity to tell the Republican Party what they think of its politics and its candidate is certainly something I'd consider worthy of at least a passing thought.

Those progressive people being, of course, not at all likely to be the ones who show up with guns. That isn't what progressive people do.

[dballance]

21. Well that's a hell of a lot of irony

The GOP trying to control the proliferation of guns around its convention? I have to agree with the earlier poster who pointed out it doesn't really matter since rarely do criminals worry about those silly things called laws. If some sociopath wants to get into the convention and shoot people they will do it no matter how many gun-control laws or regulations are implemented.

Of course, we might look upon such an action as a public service.

[tularetom]

22. WTF? Does everybody miss the irony of this situation?

The RNC has signed on 100% to very liberal gun policies. No restrictions on ownership of firearms, concealed carry for everyone yadda yadda yadda. I don't necessarily disagree with that but it sounds like they don't really believe in it themselves.

If indeed it is true that an armed populace is a safe populace, they should welcome the presence of bands of armed citizens walking the streets around their convention.

[AH1Apache]

24. Ummm

you do know that it's the city of Tampa doing this, not the RNC, right? Although having a bunch of Rethugs shooting it out amongnst themselves might just improve the gene pool

[SDjack]

23. It was OK for T-baggers to get all strapped up and menace town hall meetings in 2010.

It would be major hypocrisy if T-baggers can't strap up for a GOP meeting. Could be some minor problems if "Quick Draw" and "Dead Eye" accidentally bump shoulders in the meeting hall. Best-case scenario: "Quick Draw" is offended and calls out "Dead Eye". In a flash, "Quick Draw" fumbles his gun, it goes off, and the valued delegate from Pennsylvania is drilled in his gonads. "Dead Eye" responds faster than a cobra, sees the injured delegate go to his knees, and thinks he is now the threat. So, "Dead Eye" rips off a couple, misses the wounded delegate, but drills the valued delegate from Alaska in her ... Yeah, go ahead and laff, but it could happen. Since the original combatants did not advance on each other, it is clearly SYG.

[spin]

29. It's fun writing fiction but I would stick with your day job ...

Successful fiction has to resemble reality.

Over 800,000 people have concealed weapons permits in Florida and yet since 1987 (when shall issue concealed carry passed) no scenarios similar to the one you described have occurred.

While I don't support the "T-baggers" I can point out that they caused no problems with the firearms they openly displayed at their gatherings. I will admit that I felt their open display of firearms was both foolish and also didn't help their cause. Of course much of their agenda is foolish and misguided.

But as dripping sarcasm if that was what you intended, I would find your post humorous and appropriate.

[PavePusher]

34. That's not even good enough crap for a bad penny-dreadful. n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

25. Let them come armed to the teeth.

Guns are what they love and worship - and if something gets out of hand, just claim SYG was in effect and let the love-fest continue, just as if nothing happened.

Chill out Mayor, the GOP/NRA will handle this. Trust them.

[JDPriestly]

26. This is going to be interesting!!!!!

[PavePusher]

27. This seems to be a move solely by the city government and has nothing to do with the GOP or NRA.

Methinks you are attempting to make a connection that isn't there. It's certainly not contained in the article you quoted.

Standard jpak shenannigans.

[gejohnston]

28. inside the hall the RNC can do whatever they want

The issue is outside the hall and the protesters. The issue has more to do with protesters (who are not likely to be Republican)

[flrednec04]

30. civilty of conversation...congrats

I have searched many blogs on the "Tampa gun ban attempt"... I have to say this is the most civil conversation, that didn't fly off subject. Or downgrade to name calling and childish banter. My hat is off gentlemen. oh and my opinion on the subject....."Those who give up liberty for security deserve neither" - Ben Franklin

[NewMoonTherian]

31. This article highlights a huge problem nobody is talking about.

The governor of Florida has the power to singlehandedly suspend gun rights in an emergency? That needs to be changed immediately. Especially if they can finagle the definition of "emergency" to include a political convention.

[ileus]

32. Well put...

[petronius]

33. That's the part that has always bothered me about this story - not even the

'gun ban during emergencies' aspect of it (although I strongly disapprove of that) as much as the apparent willingness and eagerness of Tampa officials to twist "emergency management" into whatever suits their desires at the moment...

[iverglas]

35. I don't see the answer in this thread

Maybe it was posted elsewhere.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/03/us-usa-guns-tampa-idUSBRE8411E320120503

Tallahassee, Florida | Wed May 2, 2012 11:33pm EDT

(Reuters) - Florida Governor Rick Scott has rejected a request by Tampa's mayor to allow local authorities to ban guns from the city's downtown during the Republican National Convention in August.

Citing Second Amendment protections in the U.S. Constitution, Scott told Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn conventions and guns have co-existed since the nation's birth and would continue to do so during the four-day event beginning August 27.

... "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," the Republican governor said in a letter on Tuesday.
<isn't it easy to answer a question when you make it up yourself?>

... In a letter to Scott, Buckhorn said the Tampa City Council had banned a host of items from the area surrounding the convention facility, a list that includes water guns, poles and pieces of wood.

... That city officials have banned other items is irrelevant, he said. "The choice to allow the government to ban sticks, poles but not firearms, is one that the people made in enacting their state and federal constitutions," Scott wrote.

Somebody needs to tell Mr. Scott about that 9th amendment. The people have always had a non-enumerated right to carry sticks around, and he's violating it. With good justification, perhaps. Just as there would be for prohibiting the carrying of guns around near the event. Just as there is for North Carolina's law:

Officials in North Carolina are facing some of the same issues for the Democratic convention in Charlotte.

North Carolina state law is not quite as permissive of guns as Florida law. Guns cannot be carried at a demonstration or a parade in North Carolina, but are allowed if there is no demonstration, officials said.

[gejohnston]

40. Scott is too busy increasing the profits

for his drug testing labs, which is why he wants public workers and folks on welfare to be drug tested.
Good justification? I don't know, with that many drunk and high Republicans in one place I would avoid the area without at least pepper spray.

[sarisataka]

42. The last RNC was in my town

I watched the fun through binoculars. I wasn't going anywhere near that mess without Class III body armor and full NBC gear.

Our lovely sheriff Fletcher was in charge so it was guaranteed to be a Charlie Foxtrot.

The problem was not the Dem protesters or anyone there with a political agenda; it was what I call the professional protesters. You know the ones, they don't really seem to be for or against anything except goading the police into action. Nobody knows who they are yet they will show up at any large protest. If any are arrested and identified, they are typically white males in their early 20s and come from very wealthy backgrounds. A team of lawyers swoops in, gets them out on bail, delays the trail until no one really remembers what happened and the kids cops a plea on disorderly conduct, pays a small fine and walks.

It sounds like Occupy has been seeing them come by of late

[rl6214]

38. Still supporting those republicans in florida, eh?

[iverglas]

41. get a fucking grip, or at least read the thread

As I've pointed out in two places, the person who made the request to the governor of the state is the DEMOCRATIC mayor of Tampa.

No one has suggested that their concern is for the safety of Republicans.

It is plainly for the safety of the public, including any members of the public who wish to express their opposition to the Republicans in the vicinity of the convention.