Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President
Florida – -(Ammoland.com)- SB-7026, was called the “gun control bill” by the media because they recognized that this bill more about gun control than school safety. It was supposed to be a school safety bill but it quickly turned into a vehicle for three (3) gun control offensives.
We supported the school safety measures in the bill: 1.) Hardening the schools, 2.) Armed security in our schools, and 3.) Keeping guns out of the hands of the dangerous mentally ill.
We did NOT support the gratuitous gun control provisions added to the bill by REPUBLICANS.
Those gun control measures are: 1.) A ban on the purchase of rifles and shotguns by adults under age 21, 2.) A 3-day waiting period on rifles and shotguns, 3.) A ban on the sale, transfer & possession of bump stocks & accessories that increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm.
Republican legislators are responsible for passage of the “gun control bill.” They lacked the courage to uphold their oath of office and keep their word to constituents who voted for them. They were in total control. They no longer deserve your trust.
SEN. DOUG BROXSON (R) Pensacola: North Florida Sen. Doug Broxson was the linchpin. When he pulled his support for the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding gun owners he became responsible for passage of the “gun control bill.”
If Doug Broxson had kept his word, the bill would have been killed in the Senate and Senate leadership would have had to start over and bring back a true school safety bill without the gun control provisions. But at the last minute, Broxson caved to threats and promises from Senate leadership and switched his vote and sold you out.
Doug Broxson was one of seven Republican Senators who were committed to vote against SB-7026, as long as it had any gun control provisions in it. But when Broxson broke his word and switched his vote, instead of the bill dying on a 19-19 tie, it passed 20-18.
Broxson’s selfish betrayal cost law-abiding gun owners an essential part of Freedom, Liberty and Second Amendment rights.
Below are the other Republicans who DID NOT stay true to their values, their oath of office, their word and didn’t fight to support, defend and protect the Second Amendment. Those who previously had either an “A” or “A+” grade, DO NOT and WILL NOT have an “A+” or “A” now or in the foreseeable future.
When they ask for your support, when they ask you to volunteer in their campaigns, when they ask for your donations, when they ask for your votes, think long and hard about what they had done…..
REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED TO PASS GUN CONTROL: SB-7026
When they ask for your support, when they ask you to volunteer in their campaigns, when they ask for your donations, when they ask for your votes, think long and hard about what they had done…..
NEW GRADES WILL BE DETERMINED – IN PART – BY HOW THEY RESPOND TO THE 2018 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
REPUBLICAN SENATORS Previous Grade
Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville) A+
Lizbeth Benacquisto (R-Ft. Myers) A+
Rob Bradley (R-Orange Park) A+
Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) A+
Joe Negron (R-Palm City) A+
Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) A+
Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) A+
Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola) A
Anitere Flores (R-Miami) A
Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) A
Travis Hutson (R-Palm Coast) A
Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne) A
Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) A
David Simmons (R-Longwood) A
Dana Young (R-Tampa) A
Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah) C
Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) B+
The 17 Republicans listed above, along with 3 Democrats, made up the 20 votes that passed the bill. Don’t forget these names.
Legislators with a ? after their names instead of a grade refused to answer the NRA/USF Questionnaire. They didn’t break their word, they just refused to tell us they don’t support the Second Amendment.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES
Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) A+
Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) A+
Travis Cummings (R-Orange Pk) A+
Dane Eagle (R-Cape Coral) A+
Heather Fitzenhagen (R-Ft Myers) A+
Holly Raschein (R-key Largo) A+
Larry Ahern (R-Seminole) A
Thad Altman (R-Indialantic) A
Bryan Avila (R-Hialeah) A
Halsey Beshears (R-Monticello) A
Michael Bileca (R-Miami) A
Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) A
Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) A
Colleen Burton (R-Lakeland) A
Chuck Clemons (R-Jonesville) A
Richard Corcoran (R-Lutz) A
Bob Cortes (R-Altamonte Spgs) A
Manny Diaz Jr (R-Hialeah Grdns) A
Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) A
Tom Goodson (R-Merritt Island) A
Michael Grant (R-Port Charlotte) A
Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) A
Bill Hager (R-Boca Raton) A
Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) A
Shawn Harrison (R-Tampa) A
Sam Killebrew (R-Winter Haven) A
Mike LaRosa (R-St. Cloud) A
MaryLynn Magar (R-Hobe Snd) A
Ralph Massullo(R-Beverly Hills) A
Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City) A
Larry Metz (R-Groveland) A
George Moraitis (R-Ft. Laud) A
Jeanette Nunez (R-Miami) A
Jose Oliva (R-Hialeah) A
Bobby Olszewski (R-Orlando) A
Bobby Payne (R-Palatka) A
Danny Perez (R-Miami) A
Kathleen Peters (R-St. Pete) A
Cary Pigman (R-Sebring) A
Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) A
Rene Plasencia (R-Titusville) A
Elizabeth Porter (R-Lake City) A
Jake Raburn (R-Valrico) A
Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) A
Ray Rodrigues (R-Ft. Myers) A
Bob Rommel (R-Naples) A
Rick Roth (R-Palm Bch Grdns) A
David Santiago (R-Deltona) A
Chris Sprowls (R-Clearwater) A
Cyndi Stevenson (R-St.Aug) A
Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) A
Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa) A
Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) A
Chris Latvala (R-Clearwater) D
Carlos Trujillo (R-Doral) D
*Tom Leek (R-Daytona Beach) ?
*Amber Mariano (R-Port Richey) ?
Major reductions in grades are warranted by a breach of trust. The “A” and “A+” Grades are long gone. Some of these Republicans may never see an “A” again.
This anti freedom bill is a Complete waste of time. #1 Our country is OUR country because our ancestors fought and died with the weapons at hand to defeat our enemies. The history of the Second Amendment concept goes back to 680 ad and has been used in multiple countries to defend their countries from their enemies. That same concept goes to our self defense and offense of our families. Criminals do not follow laws and therefore have at their disposal any weapon they choose and so should we. This is also the reason that police departments improved the types… Read more »
Not sure how banning assault weapons = an assault on 2nd amendment rights when these types of weapons were not ever envisioned by our founding fathers. The right to bear arms – to interpret this broadly and expansively, does that include not only assault weapons, but other even more lethal arms? Atomic weapons? Shouldnt there be a reasonableness test? And how exactly does a stronger emphasis on mental illness keep these shootings from happening? Any evidence based facts on if that works to prevent shootings? Seems to me, and Im a Republican, that assault weapons are made and meant for… Read more »
You might want to do some 2nd Amendment history research
#1. The 2nd amendment and it’s ideas date back to at least 680 A.D. and it is Exaclty for weapons of war to defend our country using any weapon at hand including guns knives sticks etc. To think we should defend ourselves and our country with anything less than what is available to criminals is just stupid.
Gun control ia the wrong road.
If laws worked to keep us safe our jails would be empty, no one would die from illegal activity / criminals who simply ignore laws
@ZO, This “Gibson” is probably not a Second Amendment supporter nor conservative enough to be a Repub based upon the perfectly repeated leftist propaganda lines and terms that he uses. Like that made up “assault weapon meant for military sold indiscriminately to civilians” dribble. He obviously knows nothing about firearms or our God given and Constitutionally enshrined Civil Rights.
I think that his motive (in addition to getting paid) is to convince us that we are in the minority of conservatives.
Be sure to vote, fellow patriot or the Gibson girls of America will take over.
Congressman Jamie Grant – 64 wrote to his constituents on his vote against 7026, “….. The bill before us on school safety, not only had impacts on the 2nd Amendment, but also on the 1st, 4th, 5th and 14th Amendments. as much as I wanted to support so much of the bill, I could not vote for it because I believe wholeheartedly that provisions in the bill will fail to survive Constitutional scrutiny.” As well-intentioned as this bill is, it contains provisions that have already been challenged and others that are almost certain to be challenged. Should the Court strike… Read more »
Mr. Broxson is my state rep. I will not be voting for him at the next election. He lost my confidence and trust.
I precinct walked for Senator Jeff Brandes and Representative Larry Ahern, and this is the thanks I get? They both have done good things in the past, but they blew it with this caving in to the anti gun forces.
This is what Antonin Scalia – the patron saint of the Second Amendment – said in his remarks concerning the Heller decision in 2008: In the Heller decision, the court’s majority opinion said that the Second Amendment protects “the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home.” However, in delivering the majority opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote: “Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been… Read more »
Was my original comment not approved and posted?
This is what Antonin Scalia – the patron saint of the Second Amendment – said: In the Heller decision, the court’s majority opinion said that the Second Amendment protects “the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home.” However, in delivering the majority opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote: “Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues. The Court’s… Read more »
Anitere Flores still had an “A” rating after the bullshit she pulled killing Open Carry and Campus Carry in 2017.
So a Republican Senator flat out stating that she’s against expanding Floridians gun rights was able to keep an “A” rating.
Thanks Mairon.
I’ve had enough! I have changed my voter registration to Libertarian. All talk and sell us out when it matters most, Republicans ARE the problem now!
The Libertarian party isn’t the solution. They usually get 1% if the vote in national elections and up to 10% of the vote in local elections, but until they can actually win an election nothing will change by switching to a party that will not be able to implement any change to public policies. Staying in the GOP to vote in the primaries and to enforce term limits on those who desperately need them will make a difference. BTW, did you know that there is a Republican Liberty Caucus that works to promote liberty candidate within the GOP? You might… Read more »
Okay, I realize “Dave Brown” is probably a troll, and he may make a little money off of my responding to his stupidity, but I cannot let something he said go without comment. “”My take is simple, I have lived with gun regulations like They are trying to pass again, and they did not hurt me.”” I have also heard this from supposed “Gunners”, and this misguided line of thinking is not only what is wrong with the leadership of the NRA, but seems to pervade the thinking of a lot of people who claim to be 2A supporters. The… Read more »
Please Read my blog on WordPress.com addressing Rep. Randy Fine’s Betrayal of his constituency. He admitted his betrayal to go along to get along in the Capitol. To pander to a bunch of unruly children and the anti-gunners without regard to the actual issue of School SAFETY. https://gunfighter32908.com/2018/03/10/the-betrayal-of-the-people-by-representative-rand-fine/
Just shows how well the NRA is at doing their Jobs.
Me, age 12, NRA attracts me into the Sports of Firearms. I have been shooting and hunting ever since, or 54 years now. I do not plan to slow down with my shooting nor my buying of guns & ammo. Yet, I see no reason for The Right Nor The Left as all they ever do is complain about the complainers.It would seem that issues like this would transcend the idea of The Party or The Gang. Free Your Mind. Now I don’t make money off of what I think or right, not even what I believe in. Yet I… Read more »
Now here is how you should look at it Dave. I challange you to go into a school with the intent to kill, the thing is, you don’t get to know who will have a CC nor how many of them there are NOR where they are at. So your 30 rounds may not be enough to stop the staff from many directions from taking you out, maybe. There is the uncertainty, and that is what will make our kids safe, mine included, the doubt that will be in the atackers mind, not ANOTHER law. Hell, they have already broken… Read more »
@Dave the slave, Thank God that, “… gun regulations like They are trying to pass again, and they did not hurt me.” is not the standard. What are you a human stress gauge? If something hurts you, then and only then is the law, rule, regulation or ordinance bad, and then we are all supposed to rise up.
Is that the limit of your vision, that nothing is bad until it hurts you? Thank God that wiser, more learned, contemplative men enshrined our Civil Rights in the US Constitution.
Traitors all!
Just remember to vote them out of office letting them know why they lost your vote.
Take a look at who voted against the 2A and see what their NRA grades were. THAT is the problem. The NRA grading is a farce.
These legislators are simply cowards who are doing what they can to hang onto their precious seats. They care not about the constitution or what people want. They are truly cowards and slime.
These senators and representatives should resign from office and go to work at DICKS.
As long as the people of any state believe a LAWYER, or a POLITICIAN, they will ultimately end up as cattle or fodder. This is exactly how it started in Germany in the 30’s. First you give everyone Healthcare and make them financially dependent on the government. Then they vote with their pocketbook instead of their head, next the government starts to disarm the populace, and slowly move towards controlling the people. Watch for a means to search your homes for illegal guns next.
Don’t forget Vermont !
The true Patriots of Florida should march on the Capital and demand the resignation of all the back stabbing RINO’s that voted for the Bill. They damn sure violated their Oath of Office, The Constitution and demeaned the Citizens of the State of Florida.
Typical. I’m sure I’ll receive dozens of mailers from legislators seeking $$$. None of these turncoats will be receiving a penny!
I would like to know what (R)s DIDNT vote to infringe on citizens’ rights.
Don’t forget the ‘strengthening’ of the Baker Act which deny’s Americans of due process of their freedom and property… In Broward a kid posted a threat to Facebook. Police raided the home and took every gun, whether they belonged to the accused or his parents. So now we are moving from ‘innocent until proven guilty’ to ‘guilt by association’ Those who voted NO in the House: Abruzzon – 81 Alexander – 8 Antone – 46 Ascencio – 118 Ausley – 9 Brown – 45 Byrd – 11 Caldwell – 79 (running for Commissioner of Agriculture) Cortes, J – 43 Cruz… Read more »
None of them rated an A in the first place !
Those that Voted to Pass the Bill ! VOTE them
Out next time around or recall which ever is faster .
In the Heller decision, the court’s majority opinion said that the Second Amendment protects “the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home.” However, in delivering the majority opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote: “Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues. The Court’s opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of… Read more »