Florida Keep Guns Away From Felons Initiative (2008)
From Ballotpedia
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Keep guns away from felons is an initiated constitutional amendment based in Florida that would protects law abiding gun owners’ rights. Establishes terms for gun sales, Compiles list of felons legally possessing firearms, Requires registration, Proscribes safety measures and Clarifies existing law.[1]
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Current gun law
Convicted felons cannot get gun licenses under state and federal law.
However, in Florida law allows people charged with felonies to obtain licenses to carry guns three years after completing their sentences so long as a judge "withholds adjudication."
This means that a felon could serve probation, complete community service, obtain counseling, pay fines or fulfill other requirements and walk away with a clean record.
This type of break often is given to first- or second-time offenders in instances in which the state's case is weak, and a plea deal appears to be the best option for defendants without the money to mount a strong defense.
Support
Safer Florida is sponsoring the initiative.
The group describes itself in the following mission:
Safer Florida is a political action committee dedicated to amending the Florida Constitution to make our gun laws more stringent and our streets safer. Our organization respects the rights of law-abiding gun owners, but seeks to reform the Florida gun laws to keep thugs away from guns; an individual’s right to carry a firearm is constitutionally protected and that right deserves to be respected. However, a felon’s right to carry a firearm is just plain outlandish. Since the government has not taken actions to resolve Florida’s troubling gun laws, concerned citizens must step up and voice their outrage. It is our mission to raise awareness about this issue and petition to the state to enact legislation to fix the problem.[2]
The South Florida Sun Sentinel has also written strong editorials endorsing gun control in the state. The newspaper did an investigation on gun licenses and has reported gun licenses are easily obtained by irresponsible people.[3]
Opposition
The National Rifle Association, the original writers of the the concealed weapon law, supports open guns law and stricter courts.[4]
Status
The initiative has been approved for circulation by the Florida Secretary of State, however no signatures have been validated as of Jan. 15, 2008 and the signature deadline is February 1st.
See also
- Petition drive deadlines in 2008
- Florida signature requirements
- Florida Initiative and Referendum Law
- Florida 2008 ballot measures
- Campaign finance requirements for Florida ballot measures
External links
References
- ↑ Ballot language
- ↑ About Safer Florida
- ↑ Investigation reveals criminal pasts of those toting guns, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Jan. 28, 2007
- ↑ Investigation reveals criminal pasts of those toting guns, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Jan. 28, 2007
