Free Republic

A majority of Florida voters support legalization of recreational marijuana, a new poll says. According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Monday, 55 percent of Florida voters back legal possession of small amounts of recreational pot, compared with 41 percent who oppose it.

A Florida law restricting what doctors can tell patients about gun ownership was deemed to be constitutional Friday by a federal appeals court, which said it legitimately regulates professional conduct and doesn't violate the doctors' First Amendment free speech rights. The ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta overturned a previous decision that had declared the law unconstitutional. An injunction blocking enforcement of the law is still in effect, however. By a 2-1 decision, the appeals court upheld the law as a protection of patient privacy rights and said that the limits imposed by it were...

U.S. Rep. David Jolly said Monday he supports the recent decision striking down a Florida gay marriage ban. A Republican, Jolly said that while he believes in traditional marriage because of his Christian faith, he also thinks government should support gay marriage. In an interview with partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, Jolly (R-Indian Shores) described himself as "a 41-year-old less-government conservative," and said same-sex marriage is "an issue of less government and personal liberty." During a Tampa Bay Times/Bay News 9 televised campaign debate earlier this year, Jolly was asked about the issue and said, "I believe God saw...

DAYTONA BEACH — A Daytona Beach father who walked in on a man sexually battering his 11-year-old son Friday said he did what he had a right to do and beat the man unconscious leaving him in a puddle of blood, according to a 9-1-1 call. "I just walked in on a grown man molesting ...," the upset father told a dispatcher. "And I got him in a bloody puddle for you officer." Police responding to the Daytona Beach home at 1:07 a.m. Friday after the father called them found Raymond Frolander, 18, of Holly Hill lying motionless on the...

July 18, 2014 Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20201 Craig Fugate, Administrator Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Department of Homeland Security 500 C Street SW Washington, DC 20472 Secretary Burwell and Administrator Fugate: The Florida Department of Health has received unconfirmed reports that the federal government is bringing unaccompanied minors from the border to Florida today. On July 17, we received unconfirmed information that dozens of children were being brought by plane into Miami on Friday. This same day, ABC news reported that "the federal government is so...

A Miami cop pulled someone over last month on a routine traffic stop, but the ensuing mess resulted in an internal investigation because it turns out the man this police officer pulled over was actually a higher-ranking officer in the same police department. Officer Marcel Jackson pulled over Lieutenant David Ramras and things got intense really quickly. In a video captured on Jackson’s GoPro camera, you can see them fighting and Jackson forcing Ramras to the ground. Other officers nearby run up to....(video at link)

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she would appeal, and spokeswoman says: "With many similar cases pending throughout the entire country, finality on this constitutional issue must come from the U.S. Supreme Court." Sen. Bill Nelson: "We’ll see whether the state appeals. Meantime, as I’ve said, I believe it's wrong to discriminate against any class of people including on civil marriage.” Democratic candidate for governor Charlie Crist: "Today was a great step towards equality in Florida. It is my hope that Governor Scott and Attorney General Bondi will accept the decision of the judge and allow all Florida adults to marry...

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Crist turned to voter-rich South Florida Thursday to tap a running mate. Crist's campaign announced he had picked Annette Taddeo-Goldstein, a Colombian-American and chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, to be his lieutenant governor nominee -- provided he wins the primary

A mysterious Nigerian businessman whose empire is under scrutiny for its ties to a jailed, corrupt African politician has emerged as one of Democratic candidate for governor Charlie Crist‘s biggest campaign donors, Gossip Extra has learned exclusively. Onajite Okoloko, an oil executive turned fertilizer manufacturer with a sprawling property in Boca Raton, has donated $100,000 to Democrat Crist’s campaign so far this year, according to state campaign records.

Jacksonville, Florida has been running gun turn-in "buy back" events for a bit over a year now. The events stand outside of the norm for a number of reasons. First, they are funded by a private donor. Second, the money offered is at the low end for these events - $50 for all types of guns. Third, the Sheriff's Office, which runs the events, specifically reserves the right to determine if guns are "collectible". Those guns are not destroyed. While it is to the credit of the Sheriff's Office that it does not wantonly destroy valuable guns, I have...

An armed citizen stopped a deadly knife attack with a warning shot.  Under the new law, that went into effect a few days ago, he can be certain that he will not be charged. Specifically, the new bill is the "Threatened Use of Force" bill, which was passed by legislators after scrutiny of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.   That scrutiny  revealed that prosecutors were using the mandatory sentencing law to pressure people who believed they had acted in self defense, to plead out instead of going to trial.  A wide variety of groups, from the Unified Sportsmen of...

Gabriel Mobley Gabriel Mobley and a friend, Jose Correa, were attacked without provocation in February, 2008, as they stood on a sidewalk outside a restaurant.    Jose had his eye socket fractured by the first punch thrown in the surprise attack.   As the first attacker danced back after delivering the blow, the second of the team of attackers rushed the victims.   Mobley said that he saw the second attacker reach under his shirt.   He drew his legally concealed Glock pistol and fired at the attackers.   Both were hit and died of their wounds.   All of this was captured on...

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BEACH — A man who flew a drone into a fireworks show over West Palm Beach and captured stunning video that went viral over the weekend might have to answer to federal investigators. The Federal Aviation Administration said the video is “under investigation.” “The FAA is looking into multiple incidents in which unmanned aircraft flew into fireworks displays to determine if there was any violation of federal regulations or airspace restrictions,” the agency said in a statement to The Palm Beach Post. Punishments can include “a verbal warning and an order to stop...

Some great photos.

In the photo above, there are a couple of what appear to be nice Smith & Wesson revolvers worth hundreds of dollars each. There was a gun turn in event held at Jacksonville, Florida on the 28th of June.  693 guns were turned in for the low, low price of $50 each.  The event was also known by the propaganda term "buy back".   There were no guns "bought back" because the people buying the guns had never owned them before.   Last year, it was noted that there were a large, active group of private buyers, including a contingent from...

Florida sheriff defends acquisition of surplus MRAP Published June 30, 2014 Associated Press DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. – A decision by one Panhandle sheriff's office to purchase a military surplus MRAP is being criticized by some residents. The Northwest Florida Daily News reports that the Walton County Sheriff's office bought the mine-resistant and ambush-resistant MRAP for just the $2,500 cost of delivery. Sheriff Mike Adkinson says the heavy-duty vehicle will protect his officers in dangerous situations. But some residents told the newspaper that the military vehicle is an unnecessary show of force in their largely rural county.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CBS Tampa) – A veteran could lose his home because of a small American flag he has placed in a flower pot in front of his home.

HOMESTEAD, FL — EXCLUSIVE — A Florida couple was traumatized after a dozen heavily armed SWAT agents crashed through their front door, flash-banged their cat, aimed rifles at them and searched their home without explanation. * * * * * The raid took place in the pre-dawn hours of June 10th, 2014. At approximately 6:16 a.m., Kari Edwards and her live-in boyfriend were intruded upon by men dressed in full SWAT gear and wielding rifles. After smashing down the couple’s front door, agents tossed concussion grenades and proceeded into the home. “They busted in like I was a terrorist or...

When I heard some local Tea Party zealots had worked themselves into a frothy lather over a Republican political misstep, I naively assumed it was over the revelation that Gov. Rick Scott had been spotted at a Fort Lauderdale Starbucks sipping a chai tea with soy milk, cinnamon and Truvia. I mean, a conservative can lose his Fox News Karl Rove Card for that. Next thing you know, the guv will be slapping a Sierra Club bumper sticker on a new Prius and swapping NPR for Rush on his auto-tune. Of course, branding someone a liberal because of a beverage...

The roots of modern-day voter suppression is buried in Florida, and it grew and blossomed during the 2000 presidential elections. “Florida is the state where awareness of how serious flaws in elections administration could result in voters being disenfranchised developed,” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco, coordinator, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.votersuppression2 The critical role of Florida in deciding the presidential contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore, and the narrow margin by which the outcome was decided shined a global-sized spotlight on the state, revealing several election irregularities. Before the elections, state officials...