Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President
Florida – -(Ammoland.com)- Today, anti-gun members of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) began their push for gun ban and gun control amendments to the Florida Constitution.
Their amendments were designed to strike all of the language from Proposal #3, that had worked it’s way through the process, and insert their gun ban restrictions. These amendments had never been heard in committees and had never had public hearings.
Proposal # 3 dealt with possession of real property by aliens. The right to keep and bear arms is totally unrelated to to that issue so these amendments were in no way germane to that subject.
Former Sheriff/Commissioner Emery Gainey raised a point of order and presented the case that the amendments were not germane and argued to uphold the rules. Rules Chairman Tim Cerio advised the Chair that the point was well taken and Chairman Carlos Beruff ruled the amendments were out of order and could not be introduced.
The Commissioners proposing the gun ban and gun control amendments appealed the ruling of the Chair and tried all avenues to convince other Commissioners to ignore the rules, waive the rules and just plain violate the rules. But the majority of Commissioners overwhelmingly upheld the Chair, demonstrating respect for the rule of law and made it clear that not following the rules would set a bad example for young people.
So, for today, the rule of law and responsible leadership prevailed and our Constitution is safe from those who have no respect for the sanctity of the Constitution.
Among those Commissioners who fought and debated to support, protect and defend the Constitution and the rule of law were: Former Sheriff Emery Gainey, former Senator Don Gaetz, Rep. Chris Sprowls, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Commission Chair Carlos Beruff.
Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran wrote a strong letter to all Commissioners urging them not to put these legislative issues in the Florida Constitution