Posted on 11/16/2011 5:40:54 AM PST by marktwain
A recent story about new a state gun law has not only been generating a lot of comments locally, but statewide, and mainly from gun proponents tired of government interference with their right to bear arms.
Written by a reporter for the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, located at Florida International University in Miami, the story was about a Umatilla woman who said a neighbor target shooting on his property was frightening her horses. She thought the neighbor was violating previously established Lake County firearms and noise ordinances.
She contacted authorities who said Florida House Bill 45 -- put into law last month as part of Florida Statute 790.33 -- changed all the rules. It basically reasserts a 1987 law that gives the state sole authority with regard to the uniform regulation of firearms and ammunition in Florida, making all county and city gun restrictions enacted since then "null and void."
Ben Cox, in an email to the Daily Commercial, was adamant that anyone would even question HB 45, which he said "walked back years of unconstitutional gun regulation."
After the story appeared on FlaglerLive.com, another reader said the same thing.
"Section 790.33 Florida Statutes, the preemption statute, has been in place for 24 years (1987) and local governments have been violating that statute since that time with impunity," the reader said in response to the story.
The reader went on to point out all the state statutes on the books now that prevent people from shooting at others, or in or at vehicles and buildings.
"Never mind the fact that local noise ordinances, so long as they are not directed specifically at firearms, are still valid and enforceable," the reader said.
The new law does not change the regulations on buying guns or using them as a method of taking wildlife.
According to the gun-rights website floridacarry.org: "HB 45/SB 402 is the bill on which we've been waiting for twenty-four years. You've seen it discussed on gun rights and carry forums. This one initiative can very well set the tone of the future of gun rights in the state of Florida."
The site contends that two-thirds of Florida's 67 counties and countless municipalities have and enforce unlawful ordinances.
"The preemption statute was an effort to put an end to a patchwork of conflicting and confusing local ordinances and rules that were making criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens," the site said.
An example of this would be counties that used to prohibit gun owners, even those with concealed weapons permits, to be armed on state parks.
"Am I not likely to need it (a gun) there more than just about anywhere else ... bears, panthers, snakes, etc.?" Cox said.
As a result of the new law, cities and counties across Florida, fearful of the strict violation penalties contained in HB 45, are backing away from all local restrictions concerning guns, and proponents want to keep it that way.
CC
The headline should say Gun CONTROL proponents complain about new law.
That's exactly what they think.
While government persons are an arrogant class, the class known as horse persons is often insufferable.
Those “HorseyPersons” ganged up with the animal rights WhackoPersons and the rest of the socialism infected crowd known as GangGreen - the result was that horse slaughter was outlawed.
“The noble horse” was required by this law to be allowed to live out its life; no horse could be sold for slaughter and conversion into horse meat.
The Horsepersons and the erst of GangGreen had removed the property rights of all horse owners on the laughable concept of the “nobility” of the horse.
My personal opinion is that this case is a clear example of a deliberate attack on property rights. The snivelling, whining HorseyPerson wanted the property use of her neighbor restricted for the benefit of her horse.
The wench could not afford enough land to keep the ears of her ‘noble horse’ from being rudely assaulted by the sounds of gunfire, so HorseyWench tried to use the law to remove her neighbor’s right to use his property to exercise his 2nd Amendment protected natural law right to be armed and practice with said arms.
Big FAIL for HorseyWench.
‘Bout time!
Your post reads as informed speculation. I was not there, but your speculation seems plausible.
We have neighbors who own horses in close enough proximity to make extended target practice sessions with heavy caliber weapons uncomfortable for their horses as well as ours. And if folks with horses moved in near us, we'd accord them some respect in that regard as well. No one bitches about our using 22s and that's just fine and reasonable. Again, a little commom courtesy and common sense goes a long way to keep things civil.
I promote getting to know your neighbors and developing healthy relationships with them. Unfortunately, some people assume adversarial positions all too quickly. I do not know exactly what happened in the horse case, but I have not heard the other side.
Horses that hear regular gunfire very quickly stop paying attention to gunfire. Regular gunfire is good for horses.
I have been told by several local police officers that thhey are exempt from having to obey the laws they enforce on other citizens because they ARE the law.
One of them is now behind bars looking forward to completying the rest of his 15 to twenty year prison sentence. Too bad for him that I didn't believe him.
“My sister is a very HorseyPerson.”
I must not have properly explained my snarks - my bad.
Your sister is what I have always heard described as a “horse woman”. Your description of her indicated experience with, and understanding of, horses and their role/uses in society.
I used “HorseyPerson” in the manner one calls a National Park Service employee a “ParcPerson”.
My apologies for the confusion.
>I have been told by several local police officers that thhey are exempt from having to obey the laws they enforce on other citizens because they ARE the law.
>
>One of them is now behind bars looking forward to completying the rest of his 15 to twenty year prison sentence. Too bad for him that I didn’t believe him.
Excellent news! What, might I ask, was your procedure? (And what laws did you use?)
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