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Gun regulation bills not expected to pass this legislative session
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Gun regulation bills not expected to pass this legislative sessionBy Stella M. Ch?vezStaff WriterJanuary 29, 2002TALLAHASSEE ? Gun safety advocates are urging legislators to pass "sensible" gun laws this year and not scrap plans for a statewide pawnshop database.That was the message Monday from the Million Mom March, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, law enforcement officials and legislators who called a news conference to back proposed gun legislation.However, most of the legislation is sponsored by Democrats, some of whom concede their bills stand little chance of passage in the Republican-dominated Legislature.Among the proposals is a bill filed by Sen. Buddy Dyer, D-Orlando to keep firearms records in a new statewide pawnshop database for 10 years.But the future of that database is in jeopardy, proponents say.In October, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shelved a plan to make the database available in January.The agency said it was focusing on fighting terrorism instead. Also, no money has been budgeted for the project this year."It's going to be dissolved," said Jerome Vermette, president of the Florida Law Enforcement Property Recovery Unit, a professional organization for police. "It's just a matter of time before they let it die."Vermette said $1.33 million already has been spent on buying software and equipment and called it a "great waste of taxpayer money" if the project dies or is stalled any longer.Attorney General Bob Butterworth also spoke in support of the system."Such a database would be a major boost for law enforcement agencies throughout the state and provide another layer of protection to the people of our state," he said.Gun safety advocates spoke in favor of legislation sponsored by Sen. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, and Rep. Nan Rich, D-Weston, that would require background checks on all firearms sold at gun shows. Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties already require background checks at gun shows.The bills face stiff opposition, and Wasserman Schultz said her bill might not be heard this year. They also endorsed a bill by Sen. Betty Holzendorf, D-Jacksonville, that would tighten child safety locks and require "safe storage" of weapons in homes where children under 16 live.Marion Hammer, immediate past president of the National Rifle Association criticized the bills, calling them illegal."These are the same bills that have been out there year after year," she said. "We don't need any of them. . This is nothing more than political eyewash."Blaming the Republican leadership for the bills' poor chances, Rich said gun safety measures ultimately may need to be put on the ballot so voters can decide for themselves.Stella M. Ch?vez can be reached at schavez@sun-sentinel.com or 850-224-6214. Copyright c 2002, South Florida Sun http://www.sun-sentinel.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=sfl-fgun29jan29