DATE: | March 12, 2018 |
TO: | USF & NRA Member and Friends |
FROM: | Marion P. Hammer |
USF Executive Director | |
NRA Past President |
Last week in the legislature, true believers in the Constitution, true believers in protecting the freedom for which our Founding Fathers fought and died, stood strong and voted against the gun control bill.
But too many others put their political interests ahead of the Second Amendment and voted for gun control. They chose politics over the Constitution. Instead of focusing only on school security and fixing the broken mental health system, the Governor and House and Senate leadership, along with many Republicans in the House and Senate, chose to add gun control to the bill.
The bill that was signed into law, SB-7026, is an unconstitutional violation of the Second Amendment rights of young adults between the ages of 18-20.
That’s why NRA filed a lawsuit against the State of Florida.
The passing of that bill was so orchestrated and calculated that when the bill was signed into law, FDLE quickly shut down the background check system for hours – with no prior notice to dealers at all. When the system came back on line, an 18-20 year old could not purchase or take possession of any firearm.
Those 18-20 year olds who were in the process of purchasing rifles or shotguns had their purchases or transfers denied. Now, if they have rifles or shotguns ordered or on lay-a-way, when their guns come in, they will not be able to take possession of them. They will lose their guns and probably their money.
In addition to having their Second Amendment rights violated, they have been damaged financially by government action.
The bill also imposes a 3-day waiting period between the purchase and delivery of rifles and shotguns and bans possession of bump stocks.
The bill defines "bump fire stock" as a conversion kit, a tool, an accessory, or a device used to alter the rate of fire of a firearm to mimic automatic weapon fire OR which is used to increase the rate of fire to a faster rate than is possible for a person to fire such semiautomatic firearm unassisted by such kit, a tool, an accessory, or device. Although the bill took effect immediately, the bump stock ban doesn’t take effect until October 1, 2018.
Every legislator who voted for this bill, violated their sworn oath to “support, protect, and defend the Constitution.”
These gun control provisions do nothing to enhance school safety. They merely serve to punish law-abiding citizens for the actions of a mentally ill murderer and the failures of government officials who refused to do their jobs.
Now is the time to get registered to vote. August 28, 2018 is primary election day. That will be your next chance to replace those politicians who voted to take away Second Amendment rights. Then on November 6, you will have another opportunity to be sure the person you elect to represent you will actually uphold his or her oath of office and protect your rights.