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Good Florida Gun News
22WRF
Member Posts: 3,385
Gun owner lists would be restricted.
By Associated Press
Published February 18, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Conservatives have generally supported tough anticrime measures, as well as the government's war on terror. But one potential aspect of those battles draws their opposition: the prospect of police maintaining lists of gun owners.
A bill (SB 1152) approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday would make it illegal for police and other agencies to create comprehensive lists of firearms owners. It is being pushed by the National Rifle Association.
Law enforcement officials say that for the most part, they don't keep such arbitrary lists.
They do routinely get records of pawnshop and secondhand store transactions, including gun sales, which was required by the Legislature a few years ago. That gives police an easily searchable electronic database of people who've recently bought or sold a gun.
Under the Senate bill, those electronic lists would have to be deleted after two months. Paper records of transactions would still exist.
The bill also allows police or prosecutors to keep lists of guns, and their owners, if they're known to have been used in crime. There's also some federal background check data available. Supporters of the bill say those exceptions should let police continue to do their job.
Backers of the bill are concerned that new technology eventually would allow creation of a statewide list of people who simply own guns.
Bill sponsor Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, said many of his rural Panhandle constituents are wary of government and "arbitrary lists."
Marion Hammer, a former national head of the NRA and the group's longtime Tallahassee lobbyist, said the bill protects "the right of law-abiding citizens not to be profiled, not to be harassed. ... Owning a gun is not a crime."
The bill still has some skeptics in law enforcement.
Broward Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Edward Sileo said being able to keep electronic pawn records for only 60 days may mean crimes occurring after then will take longer to solve.
If officers "have to go out and hand-search through 4-million (paper) records ... I can tell you there is a problem," Sileo said.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/18/State/Gun_owner_lists_would.shtml
There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.
[Teddy Roosevelt]
By Associated Press
Published February 18, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Conservatives have generally supported tough anticrime measures, as well as the government's war on terror. But one potential aspect of those battles draws their opposition: the prospect of police maintaining lists of gun owners.
A bill (SB 1152) approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday would make it illegal for police and other agencies to create comprehensive lists of firearms owners. It is being pushed by the National Rifle Association.
Law enforcement officials say that for the most part, they don't keep such arbitrary lists.
They do routinely get records of pawnshop and secondhand store transactions, including gun sales, which was required by the Legislature a few years ago. That gives police an easily searchable electronic database of people who've recently bought or sold a gun.
Under the Senate bill, those electronic lists would have to be deleted after two months. Paper records of transactions would still exist.
The bill also allows police or prosecutors to keep lists of guns, and their owners, if they're known to have been used in crime. There's also some federal background check data available. Supporters of the bill say those exceptions should let police continue to do their job.
Backers of the bill are concerned that new technology eventually would allow creation of a statewide list of people who simply own guns.
Bill sponsor Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, said many of his rural Panhandle constituents are wary of government and "arbitrary lists."
Marion Hammer, a former national head of the NRA and the group's longtime Tallahassee lobbyist, said the bill protects "the right of law-abiding citizens not to be profiled, not to be harassed. ... Owning a gun is not a crime."
The bill still has some skeptics in law enforcement.
Broward Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Edward Sileo said being able to keep electronic pawn records for only 60 days may mean crimes occurring after then will take longer to solve.
If officers "have to go out and hand-search through 4-million (paper) records ... I can tell you there is a problem," Sileo said.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/18/State/Gun_owner_lists_would.shtml
There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.
[Teddy Roosevelt]